Daily World from Opelousas, Louisiana • Page A2

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Box 2389, Opelousas, LA 70571-2389. USPS 146-940 GUIDE OR YOUR INFORMATION Judi Terzotis James Flachsenhaar color in the legislature, or 23 percent, and 25 representatives of color in the House, or 24 percent. Alario selected seven minorities, 21percent, for committee chairs and vice-chairs. Barras named six minorities, 18 percent, to head or be vice- hair of committees. Of the elected lawmak- rs, Alario selected four women as committee hairs and vice-chairs.

Barras selected two wom- as committee chairs and vice-chairs. Women are underrepresented in the Legisla- ure when compared to the state demographic fig- re of 51percent. There are five women in the Senate, or 13 percent, and 17 women in the House, or 16 ercent et, committee leaders hip match the diversity make-up. Minorities constitute 22 percent of the Sena te leadership a ppointments. or the House, minorities contribute 20 percent of the app ointments.

efferson, hair of Labor and Industrial Relations, said quest there could have been more iversity for committee leadership, noting that diversity brings various perspectives and provides balance. Jefferson is one of three minority House committee chairs held by aminority. Rep. Nancy Landry, R-Lafayette, is hair of the Education committee. Rep.

Katrina ackson, D-Monroe, is hair of the Judiciary committee. ducation is the only committee with two minorities in both leadership positions. Overall, there are 16 standing committees in the House with a chair and vice-chair. Jackson said the lack of iversity always sits in the back of her mind. Yet, she said, about getting hings done.

am hoping there is a diverse group that comes ogether and votes for these bills so we can have a stable she said. ackson also acknowledged the leadership is not as diverse as years past. Last year, there were two minorities serving as ommittee chairs and six ice-chairs. arras and Alario have the power of selecting ommittee chairs and ice-chairs. After the surprising victory in January, Barras met with many lawmakers to help with his selection process.

It took him about two weeks to name his leadership team. In defense of Barras a nd AlarioIt, all of the African-American lawmak- rs in this session are emocrats, and both hambers are Republic an-controlled. Most comm ittee assignments go to epublicans. Although that tends to skew the leadership diversity figures when it comes to race, the gender breakdown of the chambers shows roughly equal numbers in each party. The 17 females break out as eight Republicans and nine Democrats.

The five females in the Senate number three to two in favor of the Democrats. Jackson said unexpected victory gave him an opportunity to re- ard some of those who voted for him. It was a close and fair Jackson said. hould always promote ep. Patricia Smith, Baton Rouge, said that diversity is more than race and gender, but also age.

he average age of the senators is 56 years old, a nd the average for the House is 53, according to information provided by legislators prior to the ses- ion. ick Ward III, R-Port A llen, is the youngest senator at 32. Francis C. Thompson, Delhi is the oldest at 74. I the ouse, Julie merson of Carencro, and Dustin Miller of Opelousas, a re tied for the oungest rep- esentatives at 28 years of age.

Frank A. Howard of Many, is he oldest representative at 7 7. should be said Smith, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. should want to know what others think. If you all have the same thought process you would never hear the differences and objectives of Smith and Jefferson a pplauded Gov.

John Bel dwards for fulfilling his pledge to have a diverse, i nclusive cabinet. Edwards selected six minorities to help fill the 16 positions, which at 38 percent, matches the state demographic. All of the top leadership is white males including enate President Alario President pro tempore Gerald Long, Speaker arras and House Speaker pro tem Walter Leger, the lone Democratic. A lario said he tried to be as fair when he selected this committee eadership. He said he used the expertise in a subject matter to help with his choices.

Sen. Sharon Hewitt, RS lidell, said there is i having experience and eing as a committee chair and vice- hair. Yet, she said she also ees the significance in diversity. more women and minorities involved in the legislative process is a good said Hewitt, the vice-chair of Transportation, Highways and ublic Works. is opportunity for new per- pectives and viewpoints ecause of life experience enators Yvonne Colo mb, D-Baton Rouge, and aren Carter Peterson, Orleans, are the wo minorities serving as ommittee chairs.

There a re five minority vice- hairs. Overall, the Senate has 17 standing committees with a chair and vice- chair. any lawmakers are optimistic about diversity i the future. notice going said Smith. have people willing to erve.

We have to con- inue to speak up on it a nd challenge Since there are so few (minorities), people will be looking at everything he aid. am challenged that once they see the diversified) chairs are performing at a high level the will open the door for D.B. SCHOOL NEWS SERVICE Rep. Patrick Jefferson, D-Homer, said the of leaders should) mirror what Louisiana looks D.B. SCHOOL NEWS SERVICE Rep.

Patricia Smith, Rouge, said that diversity is more than race and gender, but also age. have to continue to speak up on it and challenge PATRICIA SMITH REPRESENTATIVE, TON ROUGE Diversity Continued from Page 1A makers in all states and ost governors seeking opies of their daily sched- les and emails from their government accounts for the week of Feb.1. Of the more than 170 lawmakers who responded by mid- March, a majority denied the requests by saying they were legally exempt. The governors were slower to respond but more oft en provided the informa- ion. enials came from lawmakers of both parties, although slightly more from Republicans.

In states where some lawmakers said and others it was more often the majority party lawmakers ho denied the requests while a minority party leader complied. In Missouri, Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard was asked in front of dozens of reporters and editors in February whether he would release his government emails and daily calendars. you have to do is ask for it, and give it to you. I Richard said. Yet when the AP later submitted an open-rec- rds request, Richard reversed course.

A Senate a dministrator responded with a letter saying law- akers subject to the Missouri Sunshine aw. Richard, who is in his first year as the top lawmaker, explained that he learned his prede- essors had determined they were exempt, and he want to break with precedent. telling you I hide anything in my mails. I just do said Richard, a Rep ublican from Joplin. Denial letters Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn re- ponded with a denial let- er asserting his emails a nd calendars were his personal property, not subject to the Mississippi Public Records Act.

enial letters on behalf top Democratic a nd Republican lawmakers said releasing the records could amount to a unwarranted inv asion of personal for individuals who ontacted lawmakers without expecting their names to appear in the news media. A attorney for legislature said secrecy was needed encourage effective and frank honors for ur fallen heroes, seeking ptions for Kentuckians ith substance abuse roblems or counseling citizens regarding confidential problems are all in work for our legislative general counsel Morgain Sprague wrote. communications have always been protected by If lawmakers followed he same open-records ules that apply to others i government, the potential for some sensitive content being revealed would not be a reason for denying access to all of their emails. Rather, they could redact or withhold particular emails covered by unshine law exceptions while releasing the rest. Some records supplied In several states, lawmakers who provided their records did withhold certain emails they considered exempt from disclosure.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Republican head of the Senate, released 48 pages of emails but withheld the rest pending a request for a state attorney opinion on hether confidential communications between lected officials and citizens are shielded from disc losure. New Mexico lawmak- rs released hundreds of emails, mainly from constituents, but withheld three under an exemption or correspondence with certain legislative staff. hey also released copies of their daily calendars showing breakfasts and dinners sponsored by in- ustry and interest roups.

awmakers in Florida, which has one of the more expansive sunshine laws, released emails from people urging them to support oppose particular bills. hey also released calen- ars showing meetings with lobbyists. The schedule for House Minority Leader Mark Pafford even i ncluded his morning exer- ise time and his flight itin- rary for a trip to Washington, D.C. is the government. If somebody inds out doing a workout or having a app ointment at a certain time, said Pafford, a Democrat from West Palm Beach.

Sunshine Continued from Page 1A Home invasion is the unauthorized entering of any inhabited dwell- i ng, or other tructure belonging to a nother and used in whole or in part as a home or place of abode by a person, where a person is present, with the intent to use force or violence upon the person of another or to vandalize, deface, or damage the property of another. 1. Except as provided in Paragraphs two and three of this subsection, whoev- commits the crime of ome invasion shall be ined not more than $5,000 and shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not more than 25 years. 2. Whoever commits the crime of home in- vasion while armed with a dangerous weapon shall be fined not more than $7,000 and shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than five years nor more than 30 years.

3. Whoever commits the crime of home invasion when, at the time of he unauthorized enter- i ng, there is present in the welling or structure any person who is under the age of twelve years, is 65 years of age or older, or who has a developmental disability as defined in R.S. 28:451.2, shall be fined not more than $10,000 and shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than 10 nor more than 25 years. At least 10 years of the sentence imposed shall be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of entence. The above information is intended for information purposes only and not for legal advice.

For legal advice, consult an attorney. Questions can be submitted to Home invasion a crime warranting serious time BOBBYGUIDROZ ST. LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF.