The Louisiana House has voted for a bill that would increase hunting and fishing licenses starting next year. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo”
____________________________________
Legislation allowing anyone 21 and older without a felony record to concealed carry a handgun without a permit is headed to the House for final passage. Matt Doyle has the story.
________________________________________
The Louisiana House approves legislation to increase certain hunting and fishing license fees, raising millions of dollars for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says a fee hike is necessary because LDWF can no longer rely on a pot of money from the Conversation Fund
Cut 3 (10) “…practically depleted”
The vote was 79-20 in favor of restructuring Louisiana’s hunting and fishing licenses. The measure still needs Senate approval. Bacala says if they do not raise fees, then the state would have to take money from the general fund to pay for the operations of LDWF
Bacala says the average sportsmen’s license will not go up by more than 10-dollars and some activities will be combined. He says the commercial fishermen’s rates have been in place since 1986
If the Senate approves Bacala’s bill, half of the rate increases would start on June 1, 2022, the remaining half would kick in two years later.
__________________________________________________
A House committee advances Senate-approved legislation that would do away with the need to get a permit to carry a concealed handgun.
The bill is opposed by the Louisiana Chiefs of Police Association, but West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says not all law enforcement are against his bill, including his chief of police…
The bill also includes language requiring the state to offer an optional free-of-charge 60-minute online training course teaching concealed carry basics including use of deadly force, interaction with law enforcement, and firearm-free zones.
Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says this will only result in more untrained gun owners carrying in public.
Morris says “Constitutional Carry” legislation is about protecting your 2nd Amendment rights and liberties…
If passed those under 21 and those with felony records would not be allowed to concealed carry.
Representative Frederick Jones echoed other Black lawmakers in saying passing this bill would put law enforcement on edge and result in more police shootings of Black people.
The final vote was 6-4 in favor. The bill heads to the House floor for final passage. Governor Edwards has vowed to veto the legislation if it makes it to his desk.
___________________________________
A bill mandating trauma training for all public-school teachers, counselors, and administrators passed unanimously through House Education. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson’s bill requires instruction on how to recognize childhood trauma and address their needs.
Jackson says the one-hour class will be taught during in-service days for instructors so it will not be an unfunded mandate on education. Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Freiberg questioned if one hour was enough to instruct such a class. Jackson expressed she hopes class time will be extended in the future when they can dedicate funding for the class. Freiberg praised Jackson’s efforts.
New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman also voiced support of the bill and Jackson’s forethought to have the training added to the current in-service structure for educators.
Cut 12 (10) “…abusive household”
Jackson says the bill is also endorsed by First Lady Donna Edwards. Senate Bill 211 now heads to the house floor for final debate.
___________________________
Seacor Power salvage crews have managed to remove all of the vessel’s diesel fuel stores, averting potential environmental contamination.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Cory Mendenhall says crews managed to remove over 20,300 gallons of diesel from the fuel storage tanks, but about 4,500 gallons of hydraulic fluid remain…
Mendenhall says they’re now moving from the environmental response to a salvage phase that will involve raising the vessel and getting it back to port.
No there is currently no timetable for when they expect to raise the vessel, but Mendenhall does not expect it to happen before June at the earliest.
Seven crew members remain missing. Mendenhall says the National Transportation Safety Board is taking point in investigating those crewmembers’ whereabouts.
Nineteen crew members were on board at the time the Seacor Power encountered rough weather and capsized April 13th. Six crew were rescued and six bodies have been recovered.