Latest news with #SB41
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lawmakers clamp down on child abuse at early learning centers
BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Senate Health and Welfare Committee advanced legislation this week aimed at closing gaps in child abuse investigations at early learning centers. The bill moved forward following a heartbreaking testimony from a family whose three-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted by a classmate at an unlicensed private school. Senate Bill 41, introduced by Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, aims to clarify who holds responsibility for investigating child-on-child abuse in early education settings and strengthen oversight of unlicensed early learning centers. They include some day care centers and pre-kindergarten programs that are not currently required to follow Louisiana Department of Education guidelines. Louisiana House passes bill that aims to stop reservation reselling without restaurant consent The proposal gained urgency after a powerful testimony from a Jefferson Parish family. The father, a member of the Army National Guard, testified that he discovered blood in his daughter's underwear after picking her up from school and helping her change into her leotard for gymnastics practice. His daughter later told him a classmate had touched her inappropriately. 'We immediately sought medical help at Children's Hospital in New Orleans,' the father told the committee. 'The weeks that followed, my mental health would be equivalent to, if not worse than, my combat deployment to Iraq.' The family explained how the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office initially refused to investigate, citing the children's young age, and how the Department of Children and Family Services (DFCS) stated that the matter fell under law enforcement's jurisdiction. It was not until weeks later that a detective was assigned to the case. 'Everybody is pointing fingers at each other,' the mother proclaimed. She explained that no agency would take responsibility for the case. That led her to pull her child out of school and have her father-in-law travel down from New York to help care for the children. Under current law, public schools are required to conduct criminal background checks on employees but are not mandated to consult DCFS's child abuse registry. 'We need to get this gap closed,' Sen. Barrow said. 'There is no reason this school shouldn't be treated like any other school.' SB41 would require all schools, public and private, to conduct both criminal history checks and consult the child abuse registry before hiring staff. It also aims to define which agency must respond when incidents like the one experienced by the Jefferson Parish family occur. Bill revives effort to criminalize non-consensual STD exposure in Louisiana State child ombudsman Kathleen Ritchie testified that such incidents often stem from a history of trauma and said both alleged perpetrators and victims must be assessed and connected to services. 'We've failed this child, and we need to fix this problem,' said Sen. Jay Luneau. 'We've got to do better.' The bill also includes amendments that limit registry background checks to school employees hired after August 1, 2018, and exempt certified teachers from duplicate checks already completed by schools. The bill received strong support from the committee and heads to the Senate floor. 'RuPaul's Drag Race' star has most of leg amputated due to serious infection Trump: Pledge to end Ukraine war on first day in White House 'said in jest' Baton Rouge police investigating possible hit-and-run that left man hurt Consumer sentiment falls to lowest level since postpandemic inflation peak Federal authorities arrest Wisconsin judge Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gov. Lujan Grisham signs 60 bills into law
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs Senate Bill 3, which seeks to rebuild the state's behavioral health system, during a signing ceremony at the New Mexico Legislature on Feb. 27, 2025. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM) Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday signed five dozen bills on topics running the gamut from emergency services and elections to public safety and psychedelic mushroom therapy. She signed Senate Bill 41, mandating New Mexico establish an alert system for missing Indigenous people, a move praised by the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women. 'Today, we celebrate a victory for Native communities across New Mexico and beyond,' CSVANW Executive Director Tiffany Jiron said in a statement. 'The signing of SB41 is not just a policy achievement, it's a victory for every Native mother, daughter, sister, and aunt who has ever been impacted by the violence that continues to ravage our communities…The Turquoise Alert System is a powerful tool that will help law enforcement act quickly when a Native person goes missing, providing the necessary resources to respond with urgency and care.' Senate Bill 16, which allows independent voters to participate in primary elections without changing voter registration (Lujan Grisham signaled at the end of the session she liked this proposal). Other important legislation the governor signed includes: House Bill 458, which establishes the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department's authority to regulate carbon sequestration — pumping carbon dioxide into the ground. The bill collects fees for injection and establishes a fund to cover the costs of liability for ensuring carbon stays stored underground. HB458 passed on a 26-11 vote after contentious debate in the Senate's final late-night session. The governor also signed off on Senate Bill 57, which creates an exemption in the state's public records laws for any records that contain 'personal identifying information or sensitive information,' of public sector abortion providers. Senate Bill 219, which establishes a program for medicinal use of psilocybin mushrooms. Senate Bill 364, which allows immigrants authorized to work by the federal government to become police officers in New Mexico. While the governor vetoed a more comprehensive set of reforms to the state's parole system, she did sign Senate Bill 375, which allows early discharge for people who comply with probation and removes payment of court and parole costs as a condition of parole eligibility. The governor has until April 11 to act on legislation, such as signing into law or vetoing legislation. If a bill goes unsigned after the deadline, it is not enacted — called a pocket veto. Four bills contain 'emergency clauses,' meaning they went into effect as soon as the governor signed them. House Bill 206 authorizes the New Mexico Finance Authority to loan money to 62 public entities for water infrastructure projects, and Senate Bill 115 authorizes loans for up to $1 million to an additional 200 public entities, such as schools, cities and local governments. Senate Bill 33 creates a Wildfire Prepared Program in the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department's Forestry Division to provide technical assistance and training to help structures and properties in high-risk areas survive wildfire. Senate Bill 66 exempts the Early Childhood Education and Care Department; the Children, Youth, and Families Department; the Public Education Department; and other agencies considering people applying for caregiver roles from the Criminal Offender Employment Act, which prohibits employers from automatically barring people from job opportunities because of their criminal history. Here is the complete list of bills that Lujan Grisham signed into law on Monday: House Bill 41: Public Project Fund Appropriations House Bill 071: Early Childhood Ed & Care Fund Transfers House Bill 99: Nonrepairable Vehicle Certificates House Bill 101: Firearm At Polling Place for Law Enforcement House Bill 102: Violent Felonies for Meritorious Deduction House Bill 131: Caregiver Background Checks House Bill 159: Energy Project Siting & Military Bases House Bill 167: Higher Ed. Payment for Certain Tests House Bill 174: Pharmacy Reimbursement for Certain Plans House Bill 192: Digital Trunked Radio System Subscriber Fees House Bill 206: NMFA Water Project Fund Projects House Bill 233: Diabetic Foot Ulcer Equipment Coverage House Bill 244: Magistrate Judge Minimum Age House Bill 251: Ed. Retirement Beneficiary Changes House Bill 281: Hair Braiding Licensure House Bill 298: Local Government Official Changes House Bill 323: Engineer Licensure House Bill 340: DNA Of Certain Offenders in CODIS House Bill 357: Mi Via Waiver Program Provider Gross Receipts House Bill 361: EMNRD Conversion of Certain Wells House Bill 402: Health Insurance Provider Info Loading House Bill 431: Appointment Of Watershed Boards House Bill 439: Public Safety Telecommunicator CPR Training House Bill 458: Carbon Dioxide Storage Stewardship Act House Bill 553: Timber Grading Act House Bill 586: Review Of Certain Healthcare Transactions House Bill 618: Clarify DoIT Role on Agency Projects Senate Bill 007: Storm Water Service as Municipal Utility Senate Bill 008: Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program Senate Bill 016: Non-Major Party Voters in Primary Elections Senate Bill 033: Wildfire Prepared Act Senate Bill 037: Strategic Water Reserve Fund Senate Bill 039: Add Classes to Prior Authorization Drugs Senate Bill 041: Turquoise Alert System Senate Bill 053: Prescribing Psychologist Psychotropics Senate Bill 057: Medical Provider Patient IPRA Info Senate Bill 066: Criminal Offender Employment Exemptions Senate Bill 072: Nonprofit Condo Assoc. Remote Business Senate Bill 083: Innovation in State Government Fund Senate Bill 100: Indebtedness Limit of Arroyo Flood Control Senate Bill 101: Increase Certain Livestock Fees Senate Bill 113: Board & Commission Sunset Dates Senate Bill 115: Public Project Revolving Fund Projects Senate Bill 127: Movie Exemption from Barber & Cosmetic Act Senate Bill 155: Determination of Embezzlement Penalty Senate Bill 169: Strategic Economic Development Site Readiness Senate Bill 170: NMFA Definitions, Funds & Rates Senate Bill 201: Public Ed. Reform Fund Uses Senate Bill 219: Medical Psilocybin Act Senate Bill 236: Look Twice for Motorcycle License Plate Senate Bill 252: Social Work Telehealth Services Senate Bill 274: Board of Finance Approval for Land Sales Senate Bill 353: Search & Rescue Emergency Responses Senate Bill 364: Law Enforcement Qualifications Senate Bill 375: Probation & Parole Changes Senate Bill 376: State Employee Health Benefit Contributions Senate Bill 387: Community School Fund & Framework Senate Bill 401: Broadband for Education Senate Bill 481: State Fairgrounds District Act Senate Bill 535: Public Peace, Health, Safety & Welfare State Fees & Funds SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Delaware lawmakers propose a bill banning Red No. 40 from use in public, charter schools
Red No. 40 could be banned from Delaware schools if a new bill passes. The effort comes on the heels of a similar bill proposing a statewide ban on Red No. 3 Senate Bill 69 was introduced on March 11 by Sen. Eric Buckson (R-South Dover) and aims to protect students in the First State from the potential health risks associated with Food, Drug and Cosmetic Red No. 40, a synthetic food dye made from petroleum. SB 69 would prohibit selling or distributing foods and beverages containing Red No. 40 during the school day in public and charter schools in Delaware. Recent concerns over the impact of synthetic food dyes on children's health, including potential links to behavioral issues and hyperactivity, were cited as reasons for the proposed ban. Red No. 40 is widely used and found in a variety of foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, according to Healthline, including: Flavored milk Yogurt Pudding Ice cream Popsicles Cakes and other pastries Candy Gum Breakfast cereals and bars Fruit snacks Gelatin Chips Powdered drink mixes, including some protein powders Soda Sports drinks Energy drinks More education news: Don't call it recess: Delaware educators look to bring more 'play' to early learning If Red No. 40 is in a product, it will be listed on the label as: Red 40 Red 40 Lake FD&C Red No. 40 FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake Allura Red AC CI Food Red 17 INS No. 129 E129 ICYMI: Emergency Sirens will be tested throughout Delaware by DEMA in April The ban on Red No. 40 was originally proposed as part of a substitute to Senate Bill 41, which seeks a statewide ban on Red No. 3, another synthetic food dye. The Food and Drug Administration announced a nationwide ban on Red No. 3 earlier this year. The substitute was added to SB 41 in February and proposed that along with the statewide ban on Red No. 3, Red No. 40 should also be banned for manufacture, sale, delivery and distribution across the state. The legislation pointed to several states planning to ban, limit, or require warning labels on food products with Red No. 40. That substitute was later amended for a second substitute for SB 41, which removed Red No. 40 from the bill. SB 41 now focuses solely on Red No. 3 while SB 69 pertains to Red No. 40 in schools. Sen. Buckson addressed the change by saying he recognizes the importance of a practical and focused approach to handling the presence of both food additives. He added that refining and separating the actions proposed for both Red No. 3 and Red No. 40 ensures a responsible transition for businesses and schools. SB 69 has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee and is awaiting further consideration. If passed, the restrictions on Red No. 40 would be implemented by July 1, 2026, to allow schools and education officials time to prepare for the transition. Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Recently introduced bill proposes Red No. 40 ban in Delaware schools
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Turquoise Alert System for missing Indigenous people moves through legislature
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Lawmakers are pushing legislation to help when an endangered tribal or pueblo member goes missing. The Democratic bill, SB 41, would create a new statewide alert system to notify the public. The 'Turquoise Alert System' would be similar to the Brittany or Silver alerts. The bill has been quickly moving through the 2025 legislative session with overwhelming support. Lawmakers say data shows, on average, more than 200 Indigenous people are missing in New Mexico. Now, a bill aims to address the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis in the state with a new alert system. Democratic Senator Angel Charley is the lead sponsor of the bill to create the Turquoise Alert. It would send a statewide notification to law enforcement and the public of an endangered person who belongs to a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe, or pueblo. Bill aimed at overhauling CYFD moves forward in the legislature In a previous committee, many supporters urged lawmakers to pass the bill. 'These communities have experienced a radical and rapid rise in missing and murdered individuals for several decades. Creating the Turquoise Alert System will give those communities more resources to slow this epidemic,' said Arturo Castillo with the Conservation Voters New Mexico. 'It's because the lack of speed of awareness that leads to so many cold cases and some families waiting years, even decades for headway in their cases,' said Ryder Jiron with the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women. However, some committee members expressed doubts on how effective it may be when there are already other alert systems in place. 'What is the actual difference? What's going to be the new process that's going to make us solve this problem?' asked Senator Gabriel Ramos (R-Silver City). Wildfire prevention bills make their way through the Roundhouse Senator Charley said the current Amber and Silver alerts are based on age ranges, leaving a big portion of missing Indigenous people out of the statewide alerts, something this bill would address. 'And I understand the concerns are that you may receive way too many alerts, but I think if you keep hearing them, you'll know that there is an issue happening,' said Senator Angel Charley (D-Acoma). In 2022, the state released a response plan aimed at increasing investigations and prosecuting cases of missing Indigenous people. When presenting the bill, the sponsors said the alert system would help aid in these cases. The bill sailed through today's house committee with unanimous approval. It needs to go through one more committee and then the house floor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Mexico Senate passes Turquoise Alert Bill
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A bill to address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis in New Mexico was unanimously passed by the state Senate. SB 41 would create a statewide 'Turquoise Alert' that would be used to notify the public when an endangered Tribal or Pueblo member goes missing. Story continues below Crime: Albuquerque man shot at Smith's after intervening in suspicious activity Don't Miss: Immunocompromised stray receives 'life-altering' treatment at Animal Humane National: Education Department offers $25K for staffers to quit The alert would be similar to much like New Mexico's 'Silver Alert' for the elderly and 'Brittany Alert' for those with developmental disabilities. The bill is headed to the house. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
