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 153 Original 2016 Regular Session Leger
Abstract: Prohibits a person who has been convicted of a felony from qualifying for or taking
public elective office or appointment of honor, trust, or profit in the state. Provides an
exception for persons pardoned by the appropriate officer.
Present constitution provides that the right to register and vote may be suspended while a person is
interdicted and judicially declared mentally incompetent or under an order of imprisonment for
conviction of a felony.
Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution and prohibits the following from
qualifying as a candidate for elective public office or taking public elective office or appointment
of honor, trust, or profit in this state:
(1)A person who has been convicted within this state of a felony and who has exhausted all
legal remedies, or who has been convicted under the laws of any other state or of the U.S.
or of any foreign government or country of a crime which, if committed in this state, would
be a felony and who has exhausted all legal remedies and has not afterwards been pardoned
either by the governor of this state or by the officer of the state, nation, government, or
country having such authority to pardon in the place where the person was convicted and
sentenced.
(2)A person actually under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election to be held
Nov. 8, 2016.
(Amends Art. I, ยง10)