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 122 Original 2017 Regular Session Pierre
Abstract: Prohibits a public postsecondary education institution from inquiring about a prospective
student's criminal history until after an interview or a conditional offer of admission is made
and provides for the consideration of criminal history in making admission decisions.
Proposed law prohibits a public postsecondary education institution from inquiring on an initial
application form about a prospective student's criminal history until after the prospective student has
been given an opportunity to interview for acceptance for admission or, if no such interview is to be
conducted, until after the prospective student has been given a conditional offer of acceptance for
admission.
Proposed law provides, however, that a public postsecondary education institution may consider the
criminal history of a prospective student in making the final determination of whether to accept the
person for admission. Authorizes the institution, in considering the criminal history of the
prospective student, to consider the following:
(1) The nature and gravity of the criminal conduct.
(2) The time that has passed since the occurrence of the criminal conduct.
(3) The specific parameters of the institution or the prospective student's course of study and the
bearing, if any, that the criminal conduct will have on the ability of the prospective student
to meet these requirements.
Present law requires the Bd. of Regents to provide for the development and implementation of a
common application that prospective students may use to apply to any public postsecondary
education institution. Proposed law prohibits the inclusion on this application of questions
pertaining to criminal history.
Present law authorizes public colleges and universities to accept the "Common Application"
developed and administered by The Common Application, Inc. in lieu of the La. common
application. Proposed law limits the authority to accept this application to one of these
circumstances:
(1)The "Common Application" does not include questions about criminal history.
(2)The "Common Application" does include questions about criminal history, but the student has not answered them.
(Amends R.S. 17:3138(A)(1)(a) and (D); Adds R.S. 17:3152)