HLS 20RS-532 ENGROSSED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 189
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILFORD CARTER
CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to the time for filing pretrial motions
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact Code of Criminal Procedure Article 521(A), relative to pretrial
3 motions; to provide relative to the time period within which pretrial motions are
4 required to be filed; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. Code of Criminal Procedure Article 521(A) is hereby amended and
7reenacted to read as follows:
8 Art. 521. Time for filing of pretrial motions
9 A. Pretrial motions shall be made or filed within fifteen thirty days after
10 arraignment receipt of initial discovery, unless a different time is provided by law
11 or fixed by the court at arraignment upon a showing of good cause why fifteen thirty
12 days is inadequate.
13 * * *
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 189 Engrossed 2020 Regular Session Wilford Carter
Abstract: Provides that pretrial motions shall be made or filed within 30 days after receipt
of initial discovery instead of within 15 days after arraignment, unless good cause
is shown that 30 days is inadequate.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-532 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 189
Present law provides that pretrial motions shall be made or filed within 15 days after
arraignment, unless a different time is provided by law or fixed by the court at arraignment
upon a showing of good cause why 15 days is inadequate.
Proposed law amends present law to provide that all pretrial motions shall be made within
30 days after the receipt of initial discovery, unless a different time is provided by law or
fixed by the court upon a showing of good cause why 30 days in inadequate.
(Amends C.Cr.P. Art. 521(A))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of
Criminal Justice to the original bill:
1. Specify that all pretrial motions shall be made or filed within 30 days after the
receipt of initial discovery.
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.