Daily Radio Script

With three working weeks remaining in the 2005 Session, some major bills have passed the House and are now in the hands of the Senate.

Among these is House Bill 299 which sets a uniform 127 semester hours eligibility for H.O.P.E scholars. Supported by the state’s top university presidents, the measure won’t be implemented until the fall of 2005, so currently enrolled students won’t be affected.

Also passed was a comprehensive strengthening of the state’s law governing crime victim restitution which includes provisions allowing the courts to consider victim impact statements and to impose restitution judgments for juvenile offenders.

After probably the most emotionally charged debate yet this year, the House passed House Bill 197, the “Women’s Right To Know Act.”

The measure sets a 24 hour waiting period from the time that a woman notifies a physician that she is seeking an abortion before the procedure is performed. Also in the bill is a parental notification requirement for minors under eighteen years of age.

Other legislation which cleared the House: Adoption of a proposal to create an academic coaching program … a clarification of the grounds under which asbestos exposure claims may be made … and improvement of criminal records checks of in-home service employees.

I’m ________________ reporting from the Capitol.