Political Illusions of the Cajun Mafia

Shreveport
Louisiana Gov. Jindal signs legislation in support of
veterans
Posted: May 28, 2014 3:37 PM CDT
Updated: May 28, 2014 3:37 PM CDT
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Today, Governor Bobby Jindal signed two pieces of legislation to
further support Louisiana veterans and honor them for their service to our nation. Both bills
were included in the Governor's Legislative Package for 2014.
Governor Jindal signed HB 654 by Rep. Lorusso, which expands residential lease protections
for military service members and their spouses. The Governor also signed SB 538 by Sen.
John Smith, which is known as the Staff Sergeant William Austin Daniel Military Airborne
Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry Act of 2014. It creates a voluntary registry for veterans
exposed to dangerous burn pits during wartime.
Governor Jindal said, "I am honored to sign these pieces of legislation. These bills build on
our previous efforts to help support and honor Louisiana Veterans who fought tirelessly to
protect our freedoms. These bills will offer more residential lease protections to military
service members and their spouses, and they will make valuable information available to
veterans to help improve burdensome health issues that often plague our military men and
women as a result of bravely serving our country abroad."
HB 654 by Rep. Lorusso
Current law allows service members to terminate residential lease agreements without
penalty under certain circumstances related to their military service. However, these lease
protections do not apply in circumstances where a service member has been hospitalized or
has been killed. Also, often these leases are under a spouse's name and lease protections
cannot apply.
The bill clarifies and expands the current applicable lease protection to military spouses. It
will also expand protections for service members who have been injured requiring at least a
15 day hospitalization as well as those who have been killed while on active duty. The bill
also requires court costs, attorney's fees, and putative damages to be paid by a lessor to a
military service member or spouse prevailing in a suit against a lessor violating the terms of
the law.
Representative Nick Lorusso said, "This legislation ensures that our brave military personnel
and their spouses will be protected from unfair or overly strict residential leasing practices
and gives them greater flexibility to make decisions that best serve their family. In addition
to Governor Jindal, I would also like to thank Tulane Law School student Chris Yarborough
for his research and assistance with this bill."
SB 538 by Sen. John Smith
This bill is known as the Staff Sergeant William Austin Daniel Military Airborne Hazards and
Open Burn Pit Registry Act of 2014. The bill is named for Sgt. William Austin Daniel who died
after a battle with Hodgkin's Disease after honorably serving with the Louisiana Army
National Guard near burn pits overseas.
In 1985, a registry was enacted to coordinate statewide outreach, education and advocacy
towards Vietnam Veterans who suffered health complications from exposure to Agent
Orange. Since that time, several illnesses or diseases have been linked to the exposure, such
as Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Hodgkin's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Leukemia, Ischemic
Heart Disease, Prostate Cancer, and a number of other serious medical issues. Today, many