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 688 Original 2017 Regular Session Pierre
Abstract: Prohibits a public postsecondary education institution from inquiring about a prospective
student's criminal history, except for history pertaining to specified offenses, prior to his
acceptance for admission.
Proposed law prohibits a public postsecondary education institution from inquiring about a
prospective student's criminal history at any time during admissions process prior to the institution's
decision relative to the prospective student's acceptance for admission, except as otherwise provided
by proposed law. Such proposed law authorizes an institution to inquire on an initial application
form about a prospective student's criminal conviction history relative to any conviction for an
offense defined in proposed law relative to stalking, rape, and sexual battery or an equivalent offense
under the laws of another state or under any military, territorial, foreign, tribal, or federal law.
Provides that if an institution elects to deny admission based on any such conviction, it shall notify
the person, who may appeal the decision to the entity that considers the institution's disciplinary
matters.
Proposed law authorizes, after a student has been accepted for admission, an institution to make
inquiries relative to his criminal conviction history beyond those offenses enumerated in proposed
law for the following purposes:
(1) Offering supportive counseling and services.
(2) Making decisions relative to a student's participation in campus life and determining if the
institution shall limit such participation.
Proposed law provides that an institution may make such inquiries when obtaining secondary
information, including but not limited to information pertaining to immunizations, financial aid, or
housing. Provides that if an institution elects to make such inquiries, it shall consider all of the
following:
(1)The nature and gravity of the criminal conduct and whether it bears a direct relationship to
a particular aspect of a student's participation in campus life, including but not limited to
campus residency and campus activities.
(2)The time that has passed since the occurrence of the criminal conduct.
(3)The age of the student at the time of the conduct underlying the criminal conviction. (4)Any evidence of rehabilitation or good conduct produced by the student.
Proposed law provides that an institution shall not deny based solely on criminal conviction history
admission to or continuation in an academic program designed to prepare a student for a career that
requires an occupational license. Requires that an institution offer counseling relative to the licensing
requirement in order to assist a student in making an informed decision about pursuing such
program. Allows the LSU Health Sciences Center to consider criminal conviction history if
information pertaining to such history is provided on an application designed for applying for
admission to specified degree programs.
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 except as authorized by proposed law, which authorizes this for certain crimes.
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 prohibits consideration of any criminal history information provided on
such application at any point during the admissions process except as provided in proposed law.
(Amends R.S. 17:3138(A)(1)(a) and (D); Adds R.S. 17:3152)