Latest news with #SB101
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gun carry law advances in House Committee
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A gun carry bill has cleared the Committee on Criminal Justice at the Louisiana State Capitol. The author of the bill, Senator Blake Miquez (R-New Iberia), said it's meant to bring consistency to all the various gun laws in the state. Opponents call it unnecessary and even add to the confusion. Gun-carrying laws have changed over the past couple of years in the state. Louisiana has become more friendly to gun carriers and Second Amendment Rights advocates. During the 2024 Second Extraordinary Legislative Session, a proposed bill written by Miguez was passed and signed into law. It allows law-abiding citizens ages 18 and older to carry their weapons without having a permit. As a result, there is a patchwork of laws dealing with three tiers of carriers: The constitutional carrier, the permit carrier, and the out-of-state carrier. Miguez authored Senate Bill 101 and said one area in which the bill offers consistency is with the 1,000-foot rule around schools. Current law prohibits the carrying of a firearm within that range, SB 101 would change that. 'The 1,000-foot zone around a school is the major part. There are some urban areas where there's a 1,000-foot zone, and it's on public property, you could walk your dog by your mailbox and be in it. We need to make sure you can defend yourself if you're a law-abiding citizen,' said Miguez. The bill does not allow the carrying of a firearm on school property, and those who are not legally allowed to carry a firearm would still be subject to prosecution for carrying a firearm near a school. The bill passed the committee, but not before opponents argued it was unnecessary and would put more guns closer to schools, creating more dangerous situations for kids. Senate Bill 101 heads to the full House for debate. Fifth inmate captured following Orleans Justice Center escapes Speaker Mike Johnson backs tax cut bill; advocates warn of Medicaid impact Gun carry law advances in House Committee Southern University students win HBCU Emmy for sports documentary Johnson, SALT Republicans zero in on critical agreement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Alabama House passes bill raising medical age of consent to 16
Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, speaks in the Alabama Senate on May 8, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. The House passed his bill to raise the medical age of consent to 16 on Wednesday.(Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that raised the age of medical consent from 14 to 16. SB 101, sponsored by Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscambia, would require parental consent for medical, dental, and mental health services for minors under 16 and prohibit health care providers and governmental entities from denying parents access to a child's health record. 'Fourteen-year-olds' brains are not fully formed. We don't let 14-year-olds get a tattoo or vote,' Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, who handled the legislation, said. 'We want parents engaged in the process.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The House Health Committee approved the legislation on April 23 with a substitute that allows a child to receive emergency mental health treatment without the parent's consent. The substitute passed the House 85-0. The bill provides several exemptions to the age of consent requirement. Minors under 16 who are pregnant or emancipated can make their own medical decisions. Minors under 16 can also consent to services related to sexually transmitted diseases and alcohol or drug misuse. Health care professionals would also be allowed to provide emergency services without parental consent under specific circumstances, including imminent threats to the minor's health, suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation. Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, offered an amendment that requires parental consent for individualized counseling. The amendment was adopted 87-0 with 14 abstentions. 'It also spills over into the area of education, so just for some clarity there on what's allowed and what's not allowed,' Shaver said. The bill passed 85-0 with 18 abstentions. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. The last day of legislative session is May 14. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Alabama lawmakers advance bill requiring parental consent for minors' medical care
Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, speaks in the Alabama Senate on May 8, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Stutts is sponsoring a bill to raise the age of consent for medical services from 14 to 16. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama House Health Committee Wednesday approved a bill raising the age of consent for medical care from 14 to 16. SB 101, sponsored by Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, would require parental consent for medical, dental, and mental health services for minors under 16 and prohibit health care providers and governmental entities from denying parents access to a child's health record. 'Since 1972, the age of consent for all medical care in Alabama, from dental health to general health to mental health, has been 14 years of age, and this bill seeks to raise it to 16,' said Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, who is handling the legislation in the House. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DuBose said that although the bill would have originally raised the age of consent to 18 years, she and Stutts worked with the medical community to arrive at the compromise. 'I understand the concerns of all these medical professionals, and while I may not have wanted 16 to begin with, I wanted 18. We all did. This is far better than 14, and I think sometimes that's what we end up doing on legislation, is working with everybody and coming to the best compromise that we can all live with,' DuBose said. She added that a key part of the bill is ensuring that parents can access their minor child's medical records. 'The good thing about this bill is it does provide parents with access to all medical records of their minor child, and so I'm very happy with that,' she said. The bill provides several exemptions to the age of consent requirement. Minors under 16 who are pregnant or emancipated can make their own medical decisions. Minors under 16 can also consent to services related to sexually transmitted diseases and alcohol or drug misuse. Health care professionals would also be allowed to provide emergency services without parental consent under specific circumstances, including imminent threats to the minor's health, suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation. 'We try to have common sense carve outs in this law,' DuBose said in a phone interview Friday. The bill can now be considered by the full House. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill requiring medical students to stay in Hawaii dies in House
A Senate bill remains alive that would require University of Hawaii medical school students to remain in Hawaii for two years after they complete their residencies, but the House version has died. House Bill 221 and Senate Bill 101 would require students who pay in-state tuition to attend UH's John A. Burns School of Medicine to work in Hawaii for two years after their residencies or fellowships. If they don't, they would have to pay the state the difference between their in-state tuition and the cost, nearly double, of nonresident tuition : $36, 372 for each academic year, compared with $71, 328. The bills are just one part of the ongoing effort to retain health care workers across the islands and keep them from leaving for the mainland—especially in a state that needs hundreds of more doctors. But Rep. Andrew Takuya Garrett (D, Manoa )—who chairs the House Higher Education Committee—called HB 221 and SB 101 'misguided ' and 'flawed.' Although he said he understands the desire to fill the demand for health care workers, Garrett said both bills would have 'unintended consequences.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. According to Garrett, the requirement of a two-year commitment could deter enrollment at JABSOM and punish local doctors-in-training who cannot find residences in their specialized fields and force them to relocate to the mainland where there are more opportunities. Both bills were referred to their respective higher education and money committees in the Senate and House. Garrett has killed HB 221 this session. 'I'm not planning on hearing the bill, ' Garrett told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Monday. 'This bill, if I don't send it to FIN (Finance ) by this Friday, the bill is dead—and I have not scheduled it for a hearing. We'll see if the Senate bill comes over.' 'I understand what they're trying to do, but the way they're going about it is all wrong, ' Garrett said. 'We all recognize there's a terrible shortage. But these kind of mandates have the effect of making JABSOM less desirable.' Garrett shares JABSOM's desire to increase the number of students it can accept for each year's incoming classes, and hopes the Legislature provides more funding for additional instructors to accommodate bigger numbers. At the same time, he supports JABSOM's effort to expand residencies and specialties in local hospitals to train more local doctors, offer them more professional opportunities and give them reasons to stay to take care of local patients. No one had submitted testimony on HB 221 as of Monday. The Senate Higher Education Committee passed out SB 101 last week. It's now waiting to be scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Johnnie-Mae L. Perry submitted a one-sentence, written testimony in support of SB 101 and said JABSOM graduates should be required to stay in Hawaii even longer. 'Five (5 ) years commitment instead of 2 years as (proposed ), ' Perry wrote. Carol Linde said in her written testimony, 'We have a scary shortage of doctors in Hawaii, especially in rural areas. I can often see the difference in the quality of experience between doctors who understand what it means to live in and love Hawaii and those who do not. I believe this initiative is a good way to encourage more local students to make their home and grow their practice here in Hawaii, for the betterment of the whole community.' And the Hawaii Primary Care Association submitted testimony that it 'believes that requiring graduates who benefited from receiving their medical education at reduced costs to serving in Hawaii for a period after residency or fellowship is not only appropriate but desperately needed given how urgent the workforce shortage is for qualified physicians in the State.' But Stephen Hazam called the Senate version 'a misguided effort to solve the problem of a lack of health care professionals. This will only reduce the number of Hawaii residents studying medicine in Hawaii, which is counterproductive. If they don't (choose ) to practice in Hawaii, this is unlikely to change their mind.' And Garrett shares the concerns of JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker, Associate Dean Lee Buenconsejo-Luma and Michael Bruno, UH Manoa's provost. They wrote in opposition to SB 101 that requiring graduates to remain in Hawaii for two years after medical school and their residencies 'may be daunting for most applicants. This could discourage individuals from attending JABSOM, negatively affecting the number of applicants, especially residents. 'Typically, ' they wrote, 'medical education takes four years to complete. After earning their M.D. degree, students must undergo a graduate medical education (GME ) residency program, which involves three to five years of training in their chosen specialty. … Furthermore, students or residents wishing to further sub-specialize need additional fellowship training, which lasts from one to four years, before they can become board-certified in that sub-specialty.'
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill requiring medical students to stay in isles dies in House
A Senate bill remains alive that would require University of Hawaii medical school students to remain in Hawaii for two years after they complete their residencies, but the House version has died. House Bill 221 and Senate Bill 101 would require students who pay in-state tuition to attend UH's John A. Burns School of Medicine to work in Hawaii for two years after their residencies or fellowships. If they don't, they would have to pay the state the difference between their in-state tuition and the cost, nearly double, of nonresident tuition : $36, 372 for each academic year, compared with $71, 328. The bills are just one part of the ongoing effort to retain health care workers across the islands and keep them from leaving for the mainland—especially in a state that needs hundreds of more doctors. But Rep. Andrew Takuya Garrett (D, Manoa )—who chairs the House Higher Education Committee—called HB 221 and SB 101 'misguided ' and 'flawed.' Although he said he understands the desire to fill the demand for health care workers, Garrett said both bills would have 'unintended consequences.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. According to Garrett, the requirement of a two-year commitment could deter enrollment at JABSOM and punish local doctors-in-training who cannot find residences in their specialized fields and force them to relocate to the mainland where there are more opportunities. Both bills were referred to their respective higher education and money committees in the Senate and House. Garrett has killed HB 221 this session. 'I'm not planning on hearing the bill, ' Garrett told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Monday. 'This bill, if I don't send it to FIN (Finance ) by this Friday, the bill is dead—and I have not scheduled it for a hearing. We'll see if the Senate bill comes over.' 'I understand what they're trying to do, but the way they're going about it is all wrong, ' Garrett said. 'We all recognize there's a terrible shortage. But these kind of mandates have the effect of making JABSOM less desirable.' Garrett shares JABSOM's desire to increase the number of students it can accept for each year's incoming classes, and hopes the Legislature provides more funding for additional instructors to accommodate bigger numbers. At the same time, he supports JABSOM's effort to expand residencies and specialties in local hospitals to train more local doctors, offer them more professional opportunities and give them reasons to stay to take care of local patients. No one had submitted testimony on HB 221 as of Monday. The Senate Higher Education Committee passed out SB 101 last week. It's now waiting to be scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Johnnie-Mae L. Perry submitted a one-sentence, written testimony in support of SB 101 and said JABSOM graduates should be required to stay in Hawaii even longer. 'Five (5 ) years commitment instead of 2 years as (proposed ), ' Perry wrote. Carol Linde said in her written testimony, 'We have a scary shortage of doctors in Hawaii, especially in rural areas. I can often see the difference in the quality of experience between doctors who understand what it means to live in and love Hawaii and those who do not. I believe this initiative is a good way to encourage more local students to make their home and grow their practice here in Hawaii, for the betterment of the whole community.' And the Hawaii Primary Care Association submitted testimony that it 'believes that requiring graduates who benefited from receiving their medical education at reduced costs to serving in Hawaii for a period after residency or fellowship is not only appropriate but desperately needed given how urgent the workforce shortage is for qualified physicians in the State.' But Stephen Hazam called the Senate version 'a misguided effort to solve the problem of a lack of health care professionals. This will only reduce the number of Hawaii residents studying medicine in Hawaii, which is counterproductive. If they don't (choose ) to practice in Hawaii, this is unlikely to change their mind.' And Garrett shares the concerns of JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker, Associate Dean Lee Buenconsejo-Luma and Michael Bruno, UH Manoa's provost. They wrote in opposition to SB 101 that requiring graduates to remain in Hawaii for two years after medical school and their residencies 'may be daunting for most applicants. This could discourage individuals from attending JABSOM, negatively affecting the number of applicants, especially residents. 'Typically, ' they wrote, 'medical education takes four years to complete. After earning their M.D. degree, students must undergo a graduate medical education (GME ) residency program, which involves three to five years of training in their chosen specialty. … Furthermore, students or residents wishing to further sub-specialize need additional fellowship training, which lasts from one to four years, before they can become board-certified in that sub-specialty.'
