HB 282 requires Louisiana employers to assess whether an applicant's criminal history has a direct, adverse relationship to specific job duties before denying employment. It mandates consideration of factors like rehabilitation efforts (e.g., education, vocational training), juvenile offenses, and job-relatedness of the offense. The Louisiana Commission on Human Rights enforces the law, investigating complaints and ordering remedies like corrective hiring actions or up to $1,000 per violation, but prohibits private lawsuits. This bill directly affects job applicants with criminal records and employers across Louisiana seeking to hire them.
SB 258 changes Louisiana law to require that 17-year-olds and older be prosecuted in district court for traffic offenses, rather than juvenile court. It amends the Children's Code by redefining "delinquent act" to include traffic violations for individuals under 17, meaning traffic offenses committed by 17- to 20-year-olds will now be treated as criminal matters in adult court. The bill directly affects teens aged 17-20 who commit traffic violations, shifting their cases from juvenile proceedings to standard criminal prosecution. This change removes the previous exclusion of traffic violations from juvenile court jurisdiction for this age group. The bill is currently prefiled and awaiting committee referral.
HB 911 merges Orleans Parish's civil, criminal, and juvenile courts into a single "Forty-First Judicial District," directly affecting New Orleans residents, judges, clerks, and court staff. It abolishes 10 specific court divisions (including juvenile and civil/criminal divisions) and reduces judgeships from 31 to 22, while creating a unified clerk of court position and consolidating judicial offices. Key provisions include transferring juvenile court jurisdiction to the new district, eliminating duplicate court clerks, and extending current juvenile court judges' terms until 2027. The bill aims to streamline operations, reduce costs through economies of scale, and modernize a system described as "fragmented and inefficient" following Hurricane Katrina and financial challenges.
SB 201 requires Louisiana courts to hold specific hearings when resentencing juvenile offenders to determine whether parole eligibility should be included in their sentence. The bill mandates that courts explicitly state their reasoning for denying parole eligibility, reserving such sentences for the "worst offenders and worst cases." It also specifies that appellate courts must prioritize the original sentencing court's findings, particularly when youth was rejected as a mitigating factor. This procedural change affects juvenile offenders facing resentencing, focusing on the process for determining parole eligibility rather than altering sentencing ranges.
HB 137 increases penalties for threatening schools by adding a new offense: terrorizing or menacing school property, events, or firearm-free zones. It mandates 5-15 years in prison (no parole) for adults and fines up to $15,000 for such threats. Schools must distribute age-appropriate information about these crimes to students in grades 6+ and their parents annually. Parents or guardians of minors committing these acts face civil fines ($5,000-$10,000), and juvenile courts must consider restitution for response costs.
HB 140 modifies Louisiana's juvenile delinquency court timelines to ensure timely proceedings. It sets strict deadlines: if a juvenile is held in custody for a violent crime, the court must hold the hearing within 60 days; for non-violent crimes, it’s 30 days; and if not in custody, the hearing must occur within 90 days. The bill adds provisions interrupting these timelines (e.g., if a juvenile flees or is deemed mentally unfit) and suspending them during pretrial motions, requiring courts to restart the clock once interruptions end. If deadlines pass without justification, the case must be dismissed upon a juvenile’s written motion. This directly affects juveniles in delinquency cases, courts, prosecutors, and defense attorneys by streamlining procedural timelines.
HB 656 establishes a pilot program to provide structured programming to specific inmates in Louisiana. It directly affects juvenile offenders and inmates held in parish jails or prisons under the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C). The program must include rehabilitation services (education/vocational training), mental health support, and suicide prevention initiatives. Programming will be delivered in-person or via video for accessibility, with DPS&C required to create implementing rules. This bill focuses on expanding access to support services within correctional facilities.
HB 684 creates a pre-arrest diversion program for Louisiana juveniles (under 18) charged with their first nonviolent misdemeanor offense. Instead of arresting them, police must offer a civil citation allowing access to mental health services, victim restitution, or family support programs within 90 days. The program prohibits fines, fees, or criminal records for participants and requires law enforcement to report annual data on juvenile stops, program completion, and recidivism. It applies only to non-dangerous situations without weapons or immediate threats. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with implementation rules due by December 2026.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment in Louisiana that would allow the governor to recommend suspending or removing district attorneys and certain judges (district, juvenile, family, or municipal courts) for malfeasance, gross misconduct, or incompetence. If the governor recommends suspension, the Senate must approve it with a two-thirds vote; for removal, the Senate would hold a trial and require a two-thirds vote to remove the official. Removed officials would be permanently barred from holding any judicial office in Louisiana. The amendment requires voter approval in the April 2027 election and is currently pending committee review.
SB 345 requires Louisiana's Office of Juvenile Justice to submit an annual report by February 1st to the Senate Judiciary B Committee and the legislative research library. The report must detail prevention programs, diversion program development, access to education/health resources for juveniles in custody, and specific statistics on juvenile custody numbers, complaints, investigations, and lawsuits. This bill increases transparency in the juvenile justice system by mandating regular, standardized reporting on key operational metrics. It directly affects the Office of Juvenile Justice, which must now collect and submit this data annually.
