06/06/2008
In session practically nonstop since February, legislators are feeling weary, but they continue to push through their initiatives – regardless of whether the measures would make good policy. The biggest item still on the agenda is the state budget. It was heard in the Senate Finance Committee today, June 6.
We've moved!
NFIB/Louisiana has moved its offices to downtown Baton Rouge, near the state capitol. Here's how to reach us:
304 Laurel St., Suite 2-C
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Phone: 225-218-6847
Fax: 225-223-6103
Bill to help cut red tape for small business passed committee
House Bill 368, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, sponsored by Rep. Rick Nowlin (Natchitoches) passed in the House and Governmental Affairs Committee without objection on Tuesday, June 3.
This NFIB-sponsored bill is a common-sense approach to government regulations. HB 368 would require state agencies to notify small businesses of the costs associated with proposed new rules and regulations. The bill would lend badly-needed transparency to the regulatory process by implementing an electronic notification provision where currently small business owners have to call and request a hard copy from the agency.
NFIB/Louisiana state director Renee Baker testified that small business does not operate the same way as large corporations. Small, family-owned businesses generally don't have human resource departments and staff attorneys to deal with regulations. Small business owners typically do everything themselves, from payroll to purchasing to ensuring the business complies with state regulations.
Rep. Nowlin, the bill's author, testified that as a small business owner, he's had to sort through regulations from different state agencies that contradict each other. He said the cost to comply with regulations is about $2,000 a year higher per employee for small businesses than for it is large corporations.
The Louisiana Department of Economic Development supports the effort and has negotiated with Nowlin on the key points in the bill.
Please contact your representatives and tell them HB 368 is a good bill for small business.
Stelly tax reform bill passes House
Senate Bill 87, sponsored by Sen. Buddy Shaw (Shreveport), was heard on the House floor this week. The bill is essentially back in its original form, meaning it would restore tax brackets to pre-Stelly levels. That would be most helpful to those in the $25,000-$100,000 a year income range.
NFIB supports SB 87 is it now stands, which would relieve some of the tax burden on small business owners possibly to a tune of several thousand dollars per year. The bill passed the House floor and now goes back to the Senate to approve the amendments made in the House.
Another good tax measures continue to move
SB 329 by Sen. Robert Adley (Benton) would force local sales tax collectors to uniformly interpret the tax codes and give taxpayer enforcement procedures. SB 329 passed the House Ways and Means Committee and moves to House floor for debate.
Let your legislator know that this is a good bill to bring equity to unfair tax practices.
Mandates of the week
HB 958 by Rep. Franklin Foil (Baton Rouge) would require health insurance coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders in individual's younger than 21. Specifically, it would mandate coverage of applied behavioral analysis therapy though it does exempt out employers with 50 or fewer employees. The bill was reported favorably in the Senate Insurance Committee this week and now moves to the Senate Finance Committee. HB 958 has been flying through each step of the process despite opposition from the business community.
SB 354 by Sen. Nick Gautreaux (Abbeville) would require insurance coverage for fertility treatments. NFIB/Louisiana opposed the bill in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee until it was amended so it will not be harmful to small business. However, when the bill was heard this week by the House Insurance Committee, the language used in the bill was confusing. It was written so that coverage of fertility treatments would be optional, although Sen. Gautreaux said he wanted to make coverage mandatory. The committee decided to defer for a week while Sen. Gautreaux clarifies the bill's language.
NFIB/Louisiana would oppose legislation making coverage of fertility treatments mandatory. Please contact your legislator if they serve on the House Insurance Committee and tell them enough is enough with health insurance mandates. Small business can not afford anymore increases to their health insurance premiums. Those legislators are: Reps. Chuck Kleckley, Tom McVea, Andy Anders, Page Cortez, AB Franklin, Juan LaFonta, Nickie Monica, Kevin Pearson, Chris Roy, Kirk Talbot.
All business owners must be legal
HB 1387 by Rep. Patricia Smith (Baton Rouge) is a part of a national initiative by organized labor to essentially eliminate the independent contractor status. Originally, the bill targeted only those construction businesses that deliberately misclassify workers as independent contractors to avoid carrying workers' comp insurance and paying state taxes and unemployment taxes. However, in committee, HB 1387 was amended to cover all businesses rather than just the construction industry. Rep. Smith worked with the business community to strike a compromise by so it was not overly reaching in its efforts, although the bill still includes criminal penalties. It states that a business owner must knowingly violate the law, but NFIB/Louisiana is concerned because the legislation may result in criminal charges against a business owner on a first offense. The criminal provisions were supposed to be removed in committee but it appears that they have not. We will be working with lawmakers to ensure those are removed.
Sixth Congressional District candidates are signing up
Though Don Cazayoux was recently elected to fill Richard Baker's unexpired term, he will have to run again this fall to maintain his seat. Several people are committing to run or exploring their options. Sen. Bill Cassidy and former candidate Woody Jenkins have both committed to challenging Rep. Don Cazayoux in the fall. Former candidate Laurinda Calongne is still considering the option. Former candidate Rep. Michael Jackson plans to run as an independent. With Democrats split by Cazayoux and Jackson, a Republican could win with only a plurality.
College-bound entrepreneurs receive NFIB scholarship
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award is a non-profit organization that receives donations and contributions to award recipients who have displayed the entrepreneurial spirit prior to attending college. To earn a scholarship, students are required to write an essay describing their entrepreneurial endeavors and future goals. Standardized test scores, GPA and class rank also were considered. In Louisiana, the deserving entrepreneurs who received the scholarship were:
- Caddo Parish Magnet High School student Niharika Jain will be attending Yale University
- Pine School student Kara Thomas of Franklinton will be attending Southeastern Louisiana University
- Edward Douglas White High School student Brittany Weimer of Raceland who will be attending Nicholls State University
- Baton Rouge Magnet High School student Daniel Ryan who will be attending Brown University.
Useful links 
Louisiana State LegislatureLouisiana Department of Economic Development -- Small Business ResourcesLouisiana Small Business Development Centers Louisiana Small Business Employee TrainingSmall Business Administration -- Louisiana
