Harlan Kirgan
State Rep. Phillip DeVillier saw six bills pass the Legislature and become law in the recently completed regular session.
Most of DeVillier’s work was on legislation requested by local government.
But it was a bill he filed to change the capital outlay process that failed to make it through the session that seems closest to his heart.
“I think it is extremely important in this state to get it going in the right direction,” he said of HB 189. “It is something I will continue to work on because it something we need because no one wants to pay more taxes.”
The current capital outlay bill is about $380 million, he said.
That money is used for projects that include museums, splash pads and golf courses, he said. “I know that is important to some people, but it is truthfully not a priority for our entire state. I think before we look at raising taxes we just need to look at redirecting this money that we have and use it properly,” he said.
The proposal includes requiring a 25 percent match by local governments and sending capital outlay items to the Joint Committee on Capital Outlay rather than through the governor’s office, he said.
The decision-making process would then happen in open session “...instead of it being done behind closed door it will be done in public in front of everyone.”
Other DeVillier bills becoming law are:
— HB 130 allows the collection of economic information on students that had previously been obtained through free and reduced lunch programs. The bills allows other means to gather the information, which is required.
— HB 146 permit increasing the per diem paid to members of Hospital Service District 1 of St. Landry Parish from a maximum of $40 per meeting to $100 per meeting. The board is to meet up to six times a year.
— HB 109 alters the membership of the St. Landry Parish Sales Tax Commission to: one member named by the School Board; one member named by the Solid Waste Commission; one member named by the city of Opelousas; one member named by the city of Eunice; two at-large members named by the parish municipal association; one member named by the Parish Council; one member named by the sheriff; and one member named by the St. Landry Economic and Industrial Development District board.
The bill reduces from two to one the members selected by the School Board, Solid Waste Commission and the city of Opelousas.
The sheriff and economic development district are new to naming a member.
HB 540 authorizes the Eunice Board of Aldermen to designate the chief of police as having the power to appoint, discipline and discharge police personnel subject to the board budget limitations.
HB 87 establishes promotional seniority within classes through the civil service board in Eunice.
A bill to authorize golf cart crossings in Church Point was deferred until the city meets requirements asked by the state Department of Transportation and Development, he said.
A bill by DeVillier to prevent the removal of monuments such as the ones that were dismantled and removed in New Orleans was deferred. Another bill took up that cause was defeated.
DeVillier took office in January 2016 and since than has been in regular and special sessions totaling about six months.
“I’m extremely blessed with a wife that takes care of things at my house. I’m blessed people in my office, both my business office and by my district office, that can take care of things there while I’m gone,” he said about time the sessions have taken.
“These individuals have sacrificed so much for me and actually for the district while I’m gone. Without them there is no way any of this would be possible,” he said.
DeVillier said he is excited about serving, but also disappointed the Legislature is not solving fiscal issues.