Both the Louisiana House of Representatives and the state Senate have prefiled nine propositions and one resolution for the regular legislative session on April 10.
On Feb. 3, Gov. John Bel Edwards called for a special legislative session to take place from Feb. 13 to no later than Feb. 22 to address the projected current-year budget shortfall of $304 million. Edwards issued a budget proposal that will spare the University and higher education from budget cuts if the Legislature decides to pull $119 million from the rainy day fund.
Student Government president Zack Faircloth signed a letter in response to the Board of Regents’ draft response to Act 619 of the 2016 regular legislative session. The letter stated University students’ opposition to Proposals 5.6 and 5.9, which suggest reducing TOPS awards amounts based on students’ classifications and mandating 30 credit hours annually to receive the scholarship.
The prefiled bills will not have any effect on regular education, but will be voted on in the legislative session.
HB4: Reemployment of Retirees
Rep. Blake Miguez, R-Erath, has filed a bill that will authorize a retiree of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana to be reemployed as a school nurse and collect a benefit check with the ability to earn up to 25 percent of the benefit amount.
This proposition will change the present law in that retirees can be hired as school nurses rather than substitute teachers, adjunct professors or instructors in an adult literacy program.
HB5: Claiborne Parish Mayor’s Court 
A bill filed by House Rep. Patrick Jefferson, D-Homer, would establish the Mayor’s Court of the Village of Athens in Claiborne Parish. It is currently pending House Judiciary.
HB6: Obamacare Penalty Exemption
House Bill 6, by Rep. Paul Hollis, R-Covington, will allow Louisiana citizens to be exempted from any penalty imposed under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, including failure to obtain health insurance.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing federal department heads the power to “waive, defer, grant exemptions from or delay the implementation of any provision or requirement of the ACA that would impose a fiscal burden on any state.”
HB7: Washington Parish Criminal Court Fund 
House Bill 7, filed by Rep. Malinda White, D-Bogalusa, proposes to authorize Washington Parish to transfer surplus witness fees for off-duty law enforcement officers to the parish’s criminal court fund.
HB8 and HB9: Firefighters’ Retirement System 
A bill filed by Rep. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles, will prohibit dual-enrollment in the Firefighters’ Retirement System and enrollment in another Louisiana retirement system for employees first covered by FRS.
The current law requires that a person who is employed by multiple public employers who is also eligible for membership in a state retirement system to be a member of each. The proposed law will exempt membership in FRS.
House Bill 9, also by Rep. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles, will propose for educational incentive pay, seniority incentive pay, acting pay and holiday pay to be earnable compensation for the purposes of calculating contribution requirements and benefits within the FRS.
HB10: 35th Judicial Expense Fund 
Rep. Terry Brown, I-Colfax, prefiled a bill to authorize money in the 35th Judicial Expense Fund to be used for personnel health insurance premiums, certification fees, continuing education fees and capital expenditures.
The current law allows the use of money in the fund to pay the salaries of court reporters, law clerks, secretaries and other necessary research personnel to establish or maintain a law library and to purchase supplies and equipment. It can also be used for any other purpose related to the operation of the court.
Renaming of Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts (SB1)
Sen. Francis Thompson, D-Delhi, has proposed to rename the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts as the Jimmy D. Long, Sr. Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts.
SB2: Louisiana Equal Pay Act Revision
Senate Bill 2, filed by Sen. J. P. Morrell, D-New Orleans, and Sen. Karen Peterson, D-New Orleans, will revise the Louisiana Equal Pay Act to be applicable to not only women, but now men, as well. The revision will require government contractors to verify equal pay practices. The act will continue to enforce that no distinction may be made because of gender.
HCR1: Resolution
Rep. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, has proposed a resolution that memorializes Congress to “develop, implement, and enforce policies and procedures that will enhance airport safety.”