Worker misclassification bills advancing in Legislature
A Louisiana House committee approved a bill Thursday that seeks to change how state officials deal with employers that improperly classify their employees as independent contractors.
Employers pay taxes into the unemployment trust fund based on their employee payroll. Claiming that your employees are contract workers allows an employer to dodge those taxes, forcing companies that play by the rules to shoulder more of the burden to support the fund, some lawmakers and officials said.
House Bill 705 by Columbia Republican Rep. Neil Riser is awaiting a vote in the Senate. It would enhance penalties for misclassification and establish criteria to define who is or isn’t an employee. Penalties would be waived for a first offense if the employer gets into compliance within 60 days.
Lafayette Lawmaker Proposes Basin Bridge Commission, Police
UPDATE, Tuesday, May 11: The House Transportation Committee has voluntarily deferred Rep. Jonathan Goudeau s (R-Lafayette) bill that would create a governing authority and police force for the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. Rep. Goudeau says he will bring the bill back to consideration later in the legislative session after allowing the district attorneys and sheriffs in St. Martin and Iberville Parishes an opportunity to come back to the table.
Rep. Goudeau joined Bernie and Ian on Tuesday s edition of
Acadiana s Morning News to discuss the latest developments.
ORIGINAL STORY, Monday, May 10:
The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge could have its own governing authority and police force if a Lafayette legislator gets his way.
Capitol Briefing: Edwards opposes bill to do away with concealed carry permit
The Courier
Edwards opposes bill to do away with concealed carry permit
Gov. John Bel Edwards indicated that he will use his veto pen to strike down a bill that would remove the requirement that gun owners have a permit to carry concealed firearms, if the proposal reaches his desk.
The Democratic governor defended the current permitting process as appropriate to require several hours of training on safety and marksmanship and to provide gun owners with information about how they should interact with police if they carry a concealed weapon.
More than 2/3 of Louisiana lawmakers get COVID-19 vaccine
April 19, 2021
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1of5Senate President Page Cortez, left, talks with Rep. Francis Thompson, D-Delhi, during opening day of the Louisiana legislative session in Baton Rouge, La., Monday, April 12, 2021.Gerald Herbert/APShow MoreShow Less
2of5House Speaker Clay Schexnayder presides over opening day of the Louisiana legislative session in Baton Rouge, La., Monday, April 12, 2021.Gerald Herbert/APShow MoreShow Less
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4of5Lawmakers convene in the Senate Chambers during opening day of the Louisiana legislative session in Baton Rouge, La., Monday, April 12, 2021.Gerald Herbert/APShow MoreShow Less
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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) At least 68% of Louisiana lawmakers say they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, while the top leaders of the House and Senate have refused to reveal whether they ve gotten their shots, according to a survey conducted by The Advocate.