The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Alden A. Clement Jr.
DIGEST
SB 49 Original 2018 Regular Session Morrell
Present law provides that the secretary of the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections may authorize
visits and correspondence under reasonable conditions between inmates and approved friends,
relatives, and other persons.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that, notwithstanding any provision of present law, if an
inmate sustains serious bodily injury requiring admittance to an intensive care unit or trauma center,
members of the inmate's immediate family must be granted visitation with the inmate for the
duration of the inmate's admission to the intensive care unit or trauma center unless the warden or
other governing authority of the inmate's correctional facility, jail, or other detention facility provides
written notice, within six hours of the inmate's admission to the intensive care unit or trauma center,
to any immediate family member seeking visitation why such visitation cannot be granted.
Proposed law defines "serious bodily injury" as bodily injury that involves unconsciousness, extreme
physical pain or protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the
function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty, or a substantial risk of death.
Proposed law defines "immediate family" as a spouse, child, parent, stepparent, sibling, stepsibling,
grandchild, or grandparent of the inmate.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 15:833(A)(1))