Thank you for participating in our 2006 Spring tour or sending us
your legislative priorities for this year’s Legislative Session.
Ironically, this year most of you mentioned general areas of concern
rather than specific bills, reflecting our state’s on-going
need to deal with a changed post-Katrina/Rita environment. Thus areas
of focus during the 2006 Legislative Sesion, in order of priority
as determined by our members are:
ISSUES RELATED TO HURRICANES
These issues covered anything from levee security to new evacuation
plans to non-profits feeling overwhelmed as to why they are not involved
more in the recovery process. No matter how you cut it, hurricane
recovery issues are the top mentions in all areas of the state, underscored
by the expectation that state and local finances, as well as funding
resources available to non-profits, are threatened. For many social
service agencies, there was also concern about how we reshuffle resources
to follow evacuees, or what will happen to folks in Louisiana’s
public assistance programs who will soon be cut off and required to
register in new states for help. New tax credits are sought for volunteerism.
There was only one mention of rebuilding small businesses destroyed
by the hurricane.
PARTNERSHIP AND VISION ISSUES
Non-profits and state agencies are facing new challenges, reduced
resources and exhaustion, thus they are seeking new ways to collaborate
and reduce duplication of services/missions. Further, there are repeated
calls and concerns about including non-profits in recovery planning,
recognizing our role of "first responders" which so many
non-profits continue to play since social networks are destroyed for
many residents. Our organizations want an outline of "where do
we go from here". There is concern about implementing and improving
211, consolidating universities and consolidating Charity Hospital/the
health teaching schools. Clearly these concerns are related to "hurricane
issues" but they were stated so often, and most often without
reference to the hurricane, that it deserved a separate mention.
CHILD CARE ISSUES
The number one issue here is "care" programs, such as finding
quality day care due to erosion of services since storms; enrolling
kids in schools, since many are unaccounted for since storm or feared
to be dropped out to work at higher paying jobs in food service; what
to do with after-school care, summer care, etc…anything related
to "what do we do with kids while we are working because our
old supports are not there". Additionally, there is concern that
child advocates, especially in court or with agencies, are depleted.
Central and north Louisiana are requesting more school based health
centers, while New Orleans is worried about losing funding for theirs.
Most of these concerns, in one fashion or another, ultimately get
back to "funding".
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
There is an increased concern about a mental health crisis in Louisiana,
expressed both in inadequate resources as well as increased problems
such as domestic violence, violence against women and children, care
for children and the retarded, increased sexual offender crimes, racism
and just about any other behavior related to increased stress, increased
stress for caregivers, or inability to access health resources.
HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS
There were several mentions about the concern to make housing a priority,
and demonstrated knowledge that rebuilding Louisiana’s housing
stock may take 10 to 15 years, even on a good plan. But there was
no recommended action here. Just concern.
ADDITIONAL ISSUES WE ARE TRACKING:
1. Full funding for SeniorRx and LouisianaAnswers.com
2. Building support for taxes on tobacco or pornography, with dedications
to social service programs addressing lung cancer or child abuse.
3. Opposing any new restrictions on women's access to reproductive
health information and services.
