[StBernard] Disaster Relief Update From State Senator Walter Boasso

[Westley Annis]

Disaster Relief Update From State Senator Walter Boasso 

December 7 , 2005


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Disaster Relief Update from Senator Walter J. Boasso
 
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The following bills (from the recent Special Session of the Louisiana
Legislature) were signed into law this week by Governor Blanco.  If any
residents need any additional information regarding any of the bills
mentioned below, please do not hesitate to contact my office staff by
writing to boassow at legis.state.la.us or by telephoning (504) 270-9258.
 
Sincerely,
 
Senator Walter J. Boasso


House Bills: 
HB 5- Provides for the Department of Health and Hospitals to promulgate
rules for the establishment, reestablishment, or continued operation of
nursing facilities, hospitals, and intermediate care facilities for the
mentally retarded located in areas subject to hurricanes, tidal surges, or
flooding; 
HB 11- Provides for disposal of water-damaged vehicles;

HB 15- Provides relative to the contents of the petition to expropriate
property for a design-build project undertaken by the Department of
Transportation and Development;

HB 17- Waives interest due on certain delinquent retirement contributions
for a specified time period;

HB 18- Provides for public employees on involuntary furlough or leave
without pay due to a disaster to continue to earn service credit in their
retirement systems by making employee and employer contributions;

HB 28- Limits liability of law enforcement agencies to prison detainees; 

HB 39- Exempts manufacturing machinery and equipment purchased to replace
certain hurricane-damaged equipment;

HB 40- Caps the state sales tax on natural gas and electricity costs to
certain industries;

HB 56- Provides with respect to slot machine purse supplements during force
majeure;

HB 63- Allows certain Hurricane Katrina victims to take in-service
distributions from their DROP accounts; 

HB 65- Changes procedure for review of assessment lists and payment of ad
valorem taxes for 2005 tax year and for 2006 tax year in Orleans Parish;

HB 73- Provides criminal procedures for administration of criminal justice
in times of emergency or disaster; 

HB 75- Authorizes banks to make investmests to promote public welfare in
low-income communities affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita;

HB 78- Provides for definition of eligible facility during force majeure; 

HB 81- Limits increases in millage rate by Board of Liquidation, City Debt,
city of New Orleans for 2006; 

HB 88- Provides for removal and preservation of property by lessor during
certain periods; 

HB 97- Provides for certain benefits offered though the Office of Group
Benefits programs for employees who were furloughed or terminated as a
result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; 

HB 101- Authorizes Louisiana Community Development Financial Institutions to
include investments in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; 

HB 104- Provides emergency legislation relative to child support;  

HB 115- Removes the exemption of certain rooms from the hotel occupancy tax
in certain parishes; 

HB 120- Allows certain Hurricane Rita victims to take in-service
distributions from their DROP accounts; 

HB 127- Provides for costs of medical care for prisoners; 

HB 132- Authorizes the Department of Transportation and Development to
utilize the design-build method for certain transportation projects; 

HB 142- Provides relative to TOPS continuing eligibility requirements for
the 2005-06 academic year for postsecondary students displaced during such
academic year as a consequence of Hurricane Katrina or Rita, or both; 

HB 143- Provides relative to initial eligibility requirements for TOPS
awards for high school students displaced during the 2005-2006 school year
as a consequence of Hurricane Katrina or Rita, or both; 

HB 148- Changes assessment procedures for property damaged or destroyed by
disaster or emergency declared by the governor; 

HB 156; Supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations for
Fiscal Year 2005-2006; 

HB 160- Provides with respect to the Louisiana Geographic Information
System; 


Senate Bills:
SB 3- Provides for an extension of time to various entities relative to the
preparation of certain financial documents in the event of a disaster or
emergency as declared by the governor and provides for audit of certain not
for profit organizations;  

SB 16- Requires that settlement monies on claims arising under homeowners
insurance policies be placed in interest-earning escrow accounts with the
interest accruing to the claimant under such policy; 

SB 48- Requires certain insurers to itemize coverages included in payments
made to the insured; 

SB 55- Requires insurers to itemize coverages included in payments to the
insured; and 

SB 89- Provides for holding elections impaired as a result of a
gubernatorially declared disaster or emergency pursuant to a plan for
registration, early voting, absentee voting by mail, and election day
voting.