RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 261 (HB 489) 2017 Regular Session Leger
New law requires the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C), in conjunction with
the La. Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice, to collect,
track, analyze, forecast, and distribute certain information on prison admissions, parole,
community supervision, certified treatment and rehabilitation programs, workforce
development work release programs, and cost savings and reinvestment.
New law requires DPS&C to provide the information collected to the commissioner of
administration and the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget by June 30, 2018, and to
provide updated information annually thereafter. Further requires DPS&C to make the
information collected publicly available by June 30, 2018, and to update the information
annually thereafter.
New law authorizes DPS&C to enter into a memorandum of understanding or cooperative
endeavor agreement with a third-party provider to assist with the collection, tracking,
analysis, forecasting, and distribution of the data and information collected, and to adopt
rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of new law.
New law provides that in FY 2017-2018, 70% of the annual savings realized shall be deemed
a bona fide obligation of the state to be allocated as follows:
(1)30% to DPS&C to award incentive grants to parishes, judicial districts, and nonprofit
community partner organizations to expand evidence-backed prison alternatives and
reduce admissions to the state prison system.
(2)20% to the La. Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Criminal
Justice to award competitive grants for victim services.
(3)The remainder to DPS&C for targeted investments in reentry services, community
supervision, educational and vocational programming, transitional work programs,
and contracts with parish jails and other local facilities that house state inmates to
provide incentives for the expansion of recidivism reduction programming and
treatment services.
Further provides in FY 2018-2019 and thereafter, 20% of the annual savings realized shall
be deemed a bona fide obligation of the state to be allocated by DPS&C for juvenile justice
initiatives and programs, and 50% of the annual savings realized shall be deemed a bona fide
obligation of the state to be allocated as provided in Paragraphs (1) through (3) above.
Effective August 1, 2017.
(Adds R.S. 15:827.2 and 827.3)