[StBernard] BLANCO TRACK: Session Update for May 31, 2007

[Westley Annis]

BLANCO TRACK: Session Update for Thursday, May 31, 2007;Today's progress on Governor Blanco's agenda to Strengthen Louisiana's Future

BATON ROUGE - The following bills in Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco's legislative package advanced in the legislature today:

House Bill 1 - Operating Expenses of State Government 

*	Sponsored by Representative John Alario. 
*	This bill outlines the Governor's executive budget, including the following key components: 
	Education: Provides a pay increase for Louisiana's teachers to the SREB average, as well as a pay increase for support workers; expands LA4 Early Childhood program for all at-risk children, funds Louisiana's High School Redesign initiative; and invests in education technology including a laptop pilot program for two 6th grade classes in every parish. 
	Higher Education: Provides 100 percent Formula Funding for higher education institutions, provides for non-formula and over-formula institutions at three percent of their formula amounts, provides a faculty pay increase, establishes Louisiana's first substantial need-based scholarships program, provides targeted funding for hurricane-affected campuses to assist with faculty recruitment, retention and to help restore and recover key research and operational capacit! y; funds the Community and Technical College Development Pool; and funds more workforce training focused on the construction trades, nursing and allied health. 
	Health Care: Provides funding to increase private and public provider rates, expansion of disability waiver slots, continue uncompensated care pool, funding for health care redesign, and expanded services for behavioral health (mental health and addictive disorders) 
	Pay Increases: Provides for increased fire and police supplemental pay by $125 per month, a special pay package for correctional officers to reduce high turnover rate - $6,000 per officer (excludes wardens and assistant wardens), and a modest state employee pay raise - $1,500. 
*	Approved by the House of Representatives, heads next to the Senate for committee referral. 
	

House Bill 2 - Capital Outlay Budget 

*	Sponsored by Representative Taylor Townsend. 
*	Provides for the construction and repair of state and local facilities. 
*	Approved by the House of Representatives, heads next to the Senate for committee referral.
	

Click here for more on the Legislative Session. <http://www.gov.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&navID=50&cpID=169&cfmID=0&catID=0> 


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