Students may be turning off their phones and tucked away during the school day. Sean Richardson reports on a bill nearing final legislative passage that would require students to stow away their phones…
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A bill to add exceptions for rape and incest to the state’s abortion ban when the victim is under the age of 17 fails in committee after emotional debate. Brooke Thorington has more.
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Since Louisiana’s latest congressional map was thrown out by a three-judge-panel, they’ve given the legislature until June 3rd to draw a new one or they will impose their own map for the November elections. Colleen Crain has more.
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A Senate-approved bill to require public school students to either turn off or stow away their cell phones during instructional time receives approval from the House Education Committee. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says wants to eliminate what is sometimes a major distraction from the classroom…
House Education passed the measure on a ten-to-one vote. The lone no vote was from Gray Representative Beryl Amedee….
Cut 5 (13) “…we have an avenue.”
Shreveport Representative Michael Melerine expressed concern about students not having a phone during an emergency…
Cut 6 (11) “…active shooter situation.”
Mizell says during an active shooter situation, students should be focusing on hiding and being quiet…
Cut 7 (07) “…safety protocol.”
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Legislation to add exceptions for rape and incest to the state’s abortion ban was amended for exceptions only to apply when the victim is under the age of 17. The bill, however, failed to advance from House Criminal Justice after emotional debate. Bill author New Orleans Democrat, Representative Delisha Boyd’s mother was raped in her teens and turned to drugs to cope with the trauma and died before she was 30.
Haughton Republican, Representative Dodie Horton says while she agrees the rape of a child is horrific, she believes the life of the unborn child should be protected.
New Orleans Democrat Representative Alonzo Knox supports adding exceptions and says when the victims are children, he says forcing a child to give birth to a rapist child is unthinkable…
Cut 10 (11) “…disgusting way.”
Greenwell Springs Republican, Representative Lauren Ventrella questioned Boyd on the enforcement of the bill, asking how you would know if someone was telling the truth that they were raped. Boyd responded by asking how would you know if a nine-year-old was raped?
The age of consent in Louisiana is 17.
The bill failed to advance along party lines in a seven to four-vote.
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Legislation to hold a Constitutional Convention passes in the full House after amendments to change the start date from May 20th to August 1st. Bill author New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu says the dates were altered over concerns that the process was hasty.
Instead of holding committee meetings for the convention during the ongoing session, Beaullieu says they will be held in June and July. This will allow the public to testify about the proposed state constitution changes.
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While Beaullieu stressed the convention will be a refresh, not a rewrite of the constitution, Alexandria Representative Ed Larvadain expressed hesitation.
The bill which needed a two-thirds majority passed on a 75 to 27 vote. The bill now heads to the Senate and Governmental Affairs committee.
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Federal judges have ordered Louisiana lawmakers to try again and draw up a Congressional map that can be used for the 2024 federal elections. The three-judge federal panel gave lawmakers until June 3rd to approve a new map. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says if the Legislature accepts the order, this would be their third try…
The three judge panel says if the Legislature can not approve a map by June third, the court will create one on June 4th. But Secretary of State Nancy Landry says it needs a new map by May 15th in order to run a proper federal election in November. Pinsonat says the federal court system has put the state in a tough position…
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The federal judges are also not requiring a second majority Black district if the Legislature draws a new Congressional map. Attorney General Liz Murrill says they will bring this issue to the Supreme Court this week.