HLS 14RS-1407 ORIGINAL
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 624
BY REPRESENTATIVE ABRAMSON
EVIDENCE: Provides relative to expert testimony
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact Code of Evidence Article 702, relative to expert testimony; to provide2
certain criteria for expert testimony; and to provide for related matters.3
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:4
Section 1. Code of Evidence Article 702 is hereby amended and reenacted to read5
as follows: 6
Art. 702. Testimony by experts 7
If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of8
fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as9
an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto10
in the form of an opinion or otherwise. A witness who is qualified as an expert by11
knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify in the form of an12
opinion or otherwise if:13
(1) The expert's scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will14
help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue;15
(2) The testimony is based on sufficient facts or data;16
(3) The testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and17
(4) The expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of18
the case.19 HLS 14RS-1407 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 624
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Section 2. It is the intent of the Legislature of Louisiana that the enactment of this1
Act shall not change the law with respect to expert testimony and only codifies existing2
jurisprudence in State v. Foret, 628 So.2d 1116 (La. 1993) requiring expert testimony to3
have a reliable basis. The language of this Act follows Federal Rule of Evidence 702 as4
originally intended, as provided in the 1988 Comments to the Article, and states the law in5
the same word formula used in Federal Rule of Evidence Article 702.6
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)]
Abramson HB No. 624
Abstract: Provides criteria for expert testimony.
Present law authorizes a witness qualified as an expert to testify if his specialized knowledge
will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or determine a fact in issue.
Proposed law retains present law and codifies existing jurisprudence requiring an expert's
opinion to have a reliable basis.
(Amends C.E. Art. 702)