HLS 15RS-786 ENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 272
BY REPRESENTATIVE BILLIOT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
VETERANS: Amends eligibility requirements to participate in the Veterans Court program
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 13:5366(B)(9), relative to the Veterans Court program; to
3 expand eligibility for participation in the Veterans Court program; and to provide for
4 related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 13:5366(B)(9) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 ยง5366. The Veterans Court program
8 * * *
9 B. Participation in probation programs shall be subject to the following
10 provisions:
11 * * *
12 (9) In order to be eligible for the Veterans Court program, the defendant
13 must satisfy each of the following criteria:
14 (a) The defendant cannot have any prior felony convictions for any offenses
15 defined as crimes of violence in R.S. 14:2(B) a homicide as defined in R.S. 14:29.
16 (b) The crime before the court cannot be a crime of violence as any offense
17 defined as a homicide in R.S. 14:29 or any sex offense requiring registration under
18 R.S. 15:540 et seq. in R.S. 14:2(B).
19 (c) Other criminal proceedings alleging commission of a crime of violence
20 as any offense defined in R.S. 14:2(B) cannot be pending against the defendant as
21 a homicide in R.S. 14:29 or any sex offense requiring registration under R.S. 15:540
22 et seq. cannot be pending against the defendant.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-786 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 272
1 (d) The crime before the court cannot be a charge of driving under the
2 influence of alcohol or any other drug or drugs that resulted in the death of a person.
3 * * *
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)]
HB 272 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Billiot
Abstract: Provides relative to the eligibility requirements for the Veterans Court program.
Present law excludes a defendant from participating in the Veterans Court program if the
defendant's crime being considered before the court is a crime of violence as defined in
present law or if the defendant has a prior felony offense or other pending criminal
proceedings alleging commission of a crime of violence.
Proposed law expands participation in the Veterans Court program by excluding only those
defendants whose crime before the court is a homicide or sex offense requiring registration
as defined in present law or if the defendant has prior felony convictions or other pending
criminal proceedings alleging commission of a homicide or sex offense.
Present law prohibits the defendant from participating in the program if the crime before the
court involves driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug or drugs that resulted
in the death of a person.
Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 13:5366(B)(9))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original
bill:
1. Change proposed law reference regarding prohibitions for the defendant to
participate in the program from "controlled dangerous substance" to "any other
drug or drugs".
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.