The House-approved Max Gruver Act is sailing through the legislative process, passing out of a Senate committee without objection today. Jim Shannon has more.
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We’re at the halfway point of the regular session, and major changes to hot button issues appear to be off the table. Matt Doyle has more.
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The House-approved Max Gruver Act is sailing through the legislative process, passing out of a Senate Judiciary Committee without objection this morning. It calls for tougher penalties for those convicted of hazing. Police say Gruver died after an alcohol induced hazing incident last September at LSU. Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry authors the bill.
East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore testified in favor of the legislation which makes it a felony to commit hazing.
Rae Ann and Steven Gruver, Max’s parents, both testified in front of the panel.
The bill cleared the house 88-0 it now goes to the Senate Floor.
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The regular legislative session is at the halfway point, with issues like TOPS reform, gun control, and gambling expansion mostly dead, while new sexual harassment policies, tougher hazing laws, and medical marijuana expansion have received broad support. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the session has been bogged down by one issue
The yearly attempt at altering TOPS hit a brick wall on the house floor, and Pinsonat says at this point legislators should just give up trying to change the universally popular program.
Governor John Bel Edwards and Democratic lawmakers are calling on the legislature to abandon efforts to craft a budget that includes a 648 million dollar budget gap, but Pinsonat says entering a special session without a senate approved budget would be unprecedented.
Lawmakers have until June 4th to wrap up the regular session.
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The largest international music fest in the United States begins tomorrow in Lafayette as Festival International de Louisiane starts a five-day fun that features music from over 20 countries. Marketing director Carly Viator says its free to attend…
Viator says to make things easier on fairgoers this year, they will issue electronic bracelets instead of selling tickets to buy drinks and merchandise. She says you can also link your bank card to your wristband
The festival attracts 300-thousand people every year and has an estimated economic impact of 49-million dollars. Viator says there’s no other festival in Louisiana you can attend for free and hear music from across the globe…
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A Senate-approved resolution to create a panel to find a solution to Baton Rouge’s horrible traffic problems flew through a Senate committee. The Capital City is plagued with rush hour gridlock, and Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter says the sponsor of the measure was inspired to bring forth the legislation after one too many bumper to bumper trips through BR.
Carter says the city is already looking into innovative options to curb excessive traffic, such as a compressed work schedule.
The panel will be comprised of DOTD, Workforce Commision, and LSU Board of Supervisor members.