DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Lopinto HB No. 188
Abstract: Repeals antiquated and obsolete provisions regarding prisons and correctional
institutions.
Proposed law repeals the following antiquated or obsolete provisions of present law:
(1)Requires all jails and facilities to meet standards of health and decency established by the
state division of health, requires the director of the Dept. of Corrections to confer with the
state health officer concerning the establishment of such standards, and requires the state
health officer to periodically inspect all correctional institutions to determine if such
institutions are in compliance with the established standards (R.S. 15:751).
(2)Provides for the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the director of corrections who is
the chief executive, administrative, budgetary, and fiscal officer of the Dept. of
Corrections (R.S. 15:823).
(3)Provides relative to the appointment, organization, and training of department personnel,
including the director's ability to establish and abolish positions, transfer and assign
duties, and direct and control the work of personnel. Further provides that all personnel,
other than the director and two assistants to the director, shall be subject to the civil
service laws of this state (R.S. 15:825).
(4)Provides relative to the director's power and authority regarding any of the lands owned
by the state and under the control of the department including the authority to lease, grant
rights-of-way, and to enter into contracts in that regard. Further provides for the director's
authority to sell and transfer certain property to any other state agency (R.S. 15:834).
(5)Requires the director to annually submit an analysis of the institutions under the
jurisdiction of, and services performed by, the department and an analysis and evaluation
of the adequacy and effectiveness of the personnel, programs, and properties of the
department to the Board of Corrections (R.S. 15:835).
(6)Provides that all references in the laws of this state to the La. Board of Institutions, the
Dept. of Institutions, and the director of institutions shall be deemed to refer, respectively,
to the Board of Corrections, the La. Dept. of Corrections, and the director of corrections
(R.S. 15:838). (7)Requires the Dept. of Corrections to establish and maintain a drug education and
rehabilitation program at all juvenile correctional institutions under its jurisdiction and
authorizes the director to seek assistance from other state agencies involved in drug
education and rehabilitation. Further requires the director to annually report on the
operations of these programs (R.S. 15:840).
(8)Provides for the establishment of La. Restitution Industries which involve the
employment of inmates at the correctional facilities at Angola, St. Gabriel, and
DeQuincy. Further provides for the guidelines and procedures for carrying out these
projects, provides for the payment of wages to inmates who participate, and provides for
the authority of the director to deduct certain taxes from the inmate's wages (R.S.
15:840.2).
(9)Authorizes the creation, operation, and maintenance of community rehabilitation centers
by the Dept. of Corrections and the criminal sheriff of the parish of Orleans for prisoners
who have strong rehabilitation potential (R.S. 15:1131).
(Repeals R.S. 15:751, 823, 825, 834, 835, 838, 840, 840.2, and 1131)