HB 399 would allow Louisiana prisons to temporarily release inmates with terminal illnesses (where death is expected within 120 days) or severe mobility restrictions requiring acute medical care, such as prolonged coma or mechanical ventilation. It specifically excludes inmates sentenced to death. The bill clarifies the timeframe for release decisions and amends existing law to standardize this process. Currently pending in committee, it has not yet become law.
HB 538 creates a dedicated judicial expense fund for East Baton Rouge Parish's Juvenile Court by increasing civil filing fees (up to $75) and adding $10 in criminal nonsupport cases. The fund can cover court staff salaries, equipment, operational costs, and library expenses, but explicitly prohibits using it to pay judges' salaries. All fund disbursements require oversight by the court's chief judge and judges sitting en banc, with annual audits filed publicly. This bill directly affects the financial administration of juvenile court proceedings in East Baton Rouge Parish.
This bill amends Louisiana law to clarify how marshals can appoint deputy marshals and outlines the rules for their compensation and oversight. It allows marshals to issue commissions to deputy marshals who will have the same powers as the marshal, but this appointment requires approval from the local governing authority where the marshal has jurisdiction. The bill also establishes that the local governing authority must insure approved deputy marshals and determine their salary, which cannot exceed the marshal's salary. Additionally, it specifies that the marshal remains responsible for the actions of their deputies and allows marshals to use certain office funds to pay deputy salaries or hire additional deputies.
HB 159 creates a pilot program in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, allowing eligible defendants to serve pretrial time at home under electronic monitoring instead of being held in jail. To qualify, defendants cannot face violent crime or sex offense charges (as defined by law) and must pass a risk assessment by the sheriff’s office, in coordination with the district attorney and court. Participants must follow conditions like curfews, possible mental health check-ins, and pay a sliding-scale fee for supervision (with lower costs for those who cannot afford full fees). The sheriff must develop program rules, evaluate its effectiveness, and report findings to legislative committees and Caddo Parish officials, with the program ending if a new or expanded jail opens in the parish.
HB 414 prohibits employers from hiring nonlicensed healthcare workers or licensed ambulance personnel who have been convicted of specific crimes, including violent offenses, drug trafficking, or certain other serious violations. It directly affects healthcare employers in Louisiana and individuals with qualifying criminal records seeking these jobs. The bill requires employers to conduct criminal history checks; if a conviction matches the prohibited offenses listed (e.g., assault, drug distribution), hiring is barred, and existing employees must be terminated immediately. The law repeals a previous exception (R.S. 40:1203.3(B)) but does not create new appeal processes for the hiring ban.
This bill strengthens privacy protections for sensitive information handled by child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary investigative teams in Louisiana. It establishes that work product - including forensic interviews, medical records, and case notes - created during child abuse investigations is confidential and exempt from public records requests, subpoenas, and most legal discovery. The law requires these organizations to adopt written confidentiality policies that limit information sharing to authorized team members and allow disclosure only through court orders or specific legal exceptions. These provisions aim to protect the privacy of children and families while enabling professionals to collaborate effectively on abuse investigations.
HB 167 requires Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and Corrections to provide specific documentation to inmates before release from prison, primarily affecting those convicted of felony offenses. The bill mandates the department to issue a special identification card (valid for four years) to inmates without state ID, along with employment-related documents like vocational records, birth certificates, social security cards, and a resume detailing skills. It also creates a "Certificate of Employability" for inmates who completed approved rehabilitation programs, earned educational credentials, had no major disciplinary issues in the past year, and passed a skills assessment. This certificate, valid unless revoked for a new felony conviction, helps former inmates prove job readiness to employers. The law aims to improve post-release employment outcomes by streamlining access to essential identification and work documentation.
HB 769 requires courts to hold a domestic abuse offender without bail for 48-72 hours (a "cooling off" period) after arrest for specific offenses like domestic abuse battery, violation of protective orders, or stalking involving family, household, or dating partners. This applies to defendants charged with offenses listed in the bill, directly affecting those arrested for these crimes and the courts handling their cases. The bill mandates a court hearing about bail conditions within five days (excluding weekends/holidays) if bail isn't set immediately during this holding period. It does not change the definition of offenses but modifies the immediate detention and hearing process for these cases. The law aims to provide safety time for victims before bail decisions.
HB 511 creates a grant program within Louisiana's Commission on Law Enforcement to fund pursuit intervention technologies for state, parish, and municipal police departments. The bill authorizes funding for specific safety tools like GPS tracking projectiles, vehicle-stopping nets, and remote tire deflation devices to safely end high-speed chases. Agencies must integrate these technologies into their use-of-force policies to qualify for grants, with priority given to those emphasizing reduced manual deployment risks. Funds may come from state, federal, or other sources aligned with Louisiana's Strategic Highway Safety Plan. The program aims to improve officer and public safety during vehicle pursuits by supporting technology adoption.
HB 823 establishes a pilot program in Orleans Parish that offers homeless individuals facing criminal charges an alternative to court proceedings. Instead of traditional sentencing, eligible defendants can participate in a diversion program providing housing assistance, mental health services, job training, and substance abuse treatment. If participants successfully complete the program’s requirements, the criminal charges are dismissed without a conviction. The program requires annual evaluations and reporting to the Louisiana Supreme Court, aiming to reduce recidivism, court workload, and prison overcrowding while addressing homelessness through community partnerships.
