Metairie State Representative Joe Lopinto (R) has filed a bill sought by the Jefferson Parish Council and Sheriff Newell Normand to allow for the sale or lease of the parish's two public hospitals without a public vote. Normand also is Chairman of the East Jefferson General Hospital Board.
Current state law prohibits the sale or lease of EJGH or West Jeff Medical Center without a public vote.
HB 383 is co-sponsored by Robert Billiot (D-Westwego), Nick Lorusso (R-New Orleans/Metairie), Chris Leopold (R-Belle Chasse). On the Senate side, the legislation is sponsored by Conrad Appel (R-Metairie), David Heitmeier (D-Algiers), and long-time Normand ally, Danny Martiny (R-Kenner).
