[StBernard] UPDATE! BLANCO TRACK: Session Update for June 25, 2007

[Westley Annis]

UPDATE! BLANCO TRACK: Session Update for Monday, June 25, 2007;Today's progress on Governor Blanco's agenda to Strengthen Louisiana's Future

BATON ROUGE - As the Legislative Session 2007 comes to an end this week, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco's legislative package continues to progress with bills addressing insurance affordability, access to health care, and other needs advancing in the legislature today: 

Senate Bill 153 - Depopulation of Citizens Insurance by Competitive Bid

*	Sponsored by Senator Reggie Dupre 
*	This bill requires Citizens Insurance Corporation to bundle their policies for removal to the private market and reduces the state's risk exposure. 
*	House amendments rejected by the Senate, heads to a conference committee. 

Senate Bill 204 -Statewide Deductible Ranges

*	Sponsored by Senator Donald R. Cravins, Jr. 
*	This bill allows insurance companies to set deductibles based on the location of property rather than applying the same deductible across the state. 
*	House amendments rejected by the Senate, heads to a conference committee. 

Senate Bill 205 -Consumer Bill of Rights 

*	Sponsored by Senator Donald R. Cravins, Jr. 
*	This bill creates a consumer bill of rights and an office of consumer advocacy in the Department of Insurance. 
*	Approved by the Senate, heads to the Governor to be signed. 

House Bill 678 -Insure Louisiana Incentive Program 

*	Sponsored by Representative Karen R. Carter 
*	This bill allows the state to match a company's capital investment dollar for dollar to encourage more companies to write policies in Louisiana. 
*	Approved by the Senate, heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration of Senate amendments. 

House Bill 542- Louisiana Children and Youth Health Insurance Program

*	Sponsored by Representative Monica Walker and Senator Diana Bajoie 
*	This bill improves enrollment and expands access to LaCHIP, the Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program. 
*	Approved by the Senate, heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration of Senate amendments. 

House Bill 765 - Supplemental Appropriations

*	Sponsored by Representative John Alario 
*	This bill appropriates the FY 05-06 surplus and the FY 06-07 available revenue for one time purposes including economic development, education, healthcare, roads, ports and recovery initiatives. 
*	Approved by the Senate, heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration of Senate amendments. 

House Bill 464- Tax/Sales-Use exempt for utilities 

*	Sponsored by Representative Taylor Townsend 
*	This bill extends the current sales and use of tax exemption for utilities used by steel manufacturers that is set to expire this June. 
*	Approved by the Senate, heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration of Senate amendments. 

House Bill 372 - Investment Tax Credit Alternative to Enterprise Zone Sales Tax Rebate 

*	Sponsored by Representative Taylor Townsend 
*	Louisiana is now in a position to strengthen our future by providing a refundable investment tax credit option equal to 1.5 percent of qualified expenditures. 
*	This bill entitles a business that has executed an enterprise zone contract a choice of either the sales and use tax rebate or the new refundable investment tax credit. 
*	Approved by the Senate, heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration of Senate amendments. 

Senate Bill 46 - Establishes the Legislative Youth Advisory Council 

*	Sponsored by Senator Gerald Theunissen 
*	This bill creates the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council to examine and facilitate communication between youth and the legislature regarding issues important to youth. 
*	Signed by the Governor into law. 
	

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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