State Representative Wayne McMahen of Dist. 10 was able to get two of his bills passed this week that meant good news for local hospitals in Webster Parish and students attending North Louisiana Technical Community College.
The first bill, House Bill 835, serves to help out local hospitals get access to federal funding.
“It’s going to give our hospitals in Webster Parish, both Springhill and Minden Medical Center, an opportunity to pay a tax through the local police jurors to draw down federal money,” said McMahen.
This bill is meant to help certain hospitals get funding similar to what they are missing out on by not being under the Rural Hospital Preservation Act. He said that for every dollar the hospitals put in, they could potentially receive 3 to 4 dollars in return.
McMahen also stated that this bill will make these hospitals more self-sufficient and less dependent on state funding.
His other bill was House Bill 37, which makes it so students attending North Louisiana Technical Community College can now get TOPS funding at a community college level instead of a technical college level.
“This bill fixed a situation where students attending North Louisiana Technical Community College couldn’t get the full tops award. Unlike last year where they were getting the TOPS award at a technical college level, instead, this year they will be getting the award at a community college level,” said McMahen.