2018 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 548
BY SENATORS BOUDREAUX, BARROW AND BISHOP
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 15:244, relative to criminal procedure; to provide for a pretrial diversion
3 program for certain veterans of the military; to provide for an effective date; and to
4 provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 15:244 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง244. Military pretrial diversion program
8 A. In addition to any existing pretrial diversion program, the district
9 attorney for each judicial district, alone or in conjunction with the district
10 attorney of an adjacent judicial district, may create and administer a special
11 pretrial diversion program for defendants who meet the following
12 requirements:
13 (1) The individual is a veteran as defined in R.S. 13:5364.
14 (2) The defendant has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder
15 as a result of military service and provides documentation of the diagnosis to
16 the court.
17 B. At the discretion of the district attorney, after costs associated with
18 the administration of the program are paid, a portion of all remaining monies
19 collected pursuant to this Section may be distributed to entities within the
20 judicial district, or within the judicial districts participating in the program,
21 that provide rehabilitative services and treatment to veterans who have been
22 diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.
23 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
24 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
25 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 548 ENROLLED
1 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
2 effective on the day following such approval.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.