Legislative Update #1
April 11, 20192019 Spring Meeting in the News
May 2, 2019
Greetings everyone! Our list of bills and resolutions that we are monitoring and tracking has grown since my last update. In particular, LRTA took a position on HCR 1, which provides for the teacher and support staff pay raises. Below I provide more information about HCR 1 and updates on other resolutions LRTA is tracking.
HCR 1- Representative Nancy Landry introduced HCR 1 to the House Education Committee on April 16. This House Concurrent Resolution provides for the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) which includes $101 million for teacher and support staff pay raises and an additional $39 million to school districts. LRTA SUPPORTS this resolution. The committee voted 9-5 to return the MFP to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) with the recommendation to remove the additional $39 million to school districts. BESE will meet on May 7 to vote on the MFP.
SCR 34- Senator Beth Mizell has filed a senate resolution that encourages Congress to repeal the Government Pension Offset/Windfall Elimination Provision. This is important to monitor as it affects our retirees who are impacted by the GPO or WEP. Plus, this resolution demonstrates our legislators are making an effort to understand and take action on the issues impacting Louisiana’s retirees. The President of the Senate signed the resolution on April 22.
HCR 20- Representative Sam Jones has filed a house resolution that encourages Congress to repeal the Government Pension Offset/Windfall Elimination Provision. This is important to monitor as it affects our retirees who are impacted by the GPO or WEP. Plus, this resolution demonstrates our legislators are making an effort to understand and take action on the issues impacting Louisiana’s retirees. The President of the Senate signed the resolution on April 23.
Now that the President of the Senate has signed HCR 20, it will go before the governor. Let’s not forget about HB 28 by Representative Barry Ivey. LRTA is closely monitoring the bill; to date the House Retirement Committee has not heard HB 28. Please reach out to House Retirement Committee members and ask them to OPPOSE HB 28.
Click on this link for the committee members’ contact information: House Committee Members
As the session progresses, I hope to provide regular updates here on our webpage. Whether it’s through a written post or Facebook Live Video, I hope you find these updates succinct, informative and helpful.
Regards,
Rodney R. Watson