HLS 20RS-745 ENGROSSED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 643
BY REPRESENTATIVE JONES
PAROLE: Provides relative to the supervision of parolees
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 15:574.2(D)(1) and to enact R.S. 15:574.7(E), relative to the
3 committee on parole; to provide relative to the powers and duties of the committee
4 on parole; to provide relative to the time and conditions of release on parole; to
5 provide relative to the supervision and fees associated with the supervision of a
6 parolee; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 15:574.2(D)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
915:574.7(E) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §574.2. Committee on parole, Board of Pardons; membership; qualifications;
11 vacancies; compensation; domicile; venue; meetings; quorum; panels;
12 powers and duties; transfer of property to committee; representation of
13 applicants before the committee; prohibitions
14 * * *
15 D. In accordance with the provisions of this Part, the committee on parole
16 shall have the following powers and duties:
17 (1) Except as provided in Paragraph (C)(4) of this Section, to To determine
18 the time and conditions of release on parole of any offender who has been convicted
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HB NO. 643
1 of a felony and sentenced to imprisonment, and confined in any penal or correctional
2 institution in this state in accordance with R.S. 15:574.7.
3 * * *
4 §574.7. Custody and supervision of parolees; modification or suspension of
5 supervision; violation of conditions of parole; sanctions; alternative
6 conditions; administrative sanctions
7 * * *
8 E. Upon recommendation of the supervising parole officer and approval of
9 the committee on parole, the level of supervision and the fees associated with the
10 supervision of a parolee may be reduced after the parolee has served a minimum of
11 five years without a violation of the terms and conditions of parole for a crime that
12 is not a crime of violence as defined by R.S. 14:2(B) and a minimum of seven years
13 for a crime that is a crime of violence as defined by R.S. 14:2(B).
14 * * *
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 643 Engrossed 2020 Regular Session Jones
Abstract: Authorizes a reduction in the level of supervision and fees after a parolee has
served a certain length of time.
Present law provides that when the committee on parole orders an offender released on
parole, the term shall be for the remainder of the offender's sentence, with credits for
compliance with the terms and conditions of parole supervision pursuant to present law (R.S.
15:574.6.1). Further provides that when the parolee has completed his full parole term, he
shall be discharged from parole by the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections without order
by the committee, provided that:
(1)No warrant has been issued by the committee for the arrest of the parolee.
(2)No detainer has been issued by the parole officer for the detention of the parolee
pending revocation proceedings.
(3)No indictment or bill of information is pending for any felony the parolee is
suspected to have committed while on parole.
Proposed law amends present law to require the committee's determination of time and
conditions of release on parole of any offender who has been convicted of a felony and
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HB NO. 643
sentenced to imprisonment, and confined in any penal or correctional institution in this state
to be in accordance with present law (R.S. 15:574.7).
Present law (R.S. 15:574.4) requires each parolee to remain in the legal custody of the Dept.
of Public Safety and Corrections, corrections services, and requires the parolee to be subject
to the order and supervision of the committee. Further provides that at the direction of the
committee, the chief probation and parole officer shall be responsible for the investigation
and supervision of all parolees. Authorizes the committee to modify or suspend such
supervision upon a determination that a parolee who had conducted himself in accordance
with the conditions of his parole no longer needs the guidance and supervision originally
imposed.
Proposed law provides that upon recommendation of the supervising parole officer and
approval of the committee on parole, the level of supervision and fees associated with the
supervision of a parolee may be reduced after the parolee has served a minimum of five
years without a violation of the terms and conditions of parole for a crime that is not a crime
of violence as defined by present law (R.S. 14:2(B)) and a minimum of seven years for a
crime that is a crime of violence as defined by present law.
(Amends R.S. 15:574.2(D)(1); Adds R.S. 15:574.7(E))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of
Criminal Justice to the original bill:
1. Restore present law relative to the committee's determination of time and
conditions of release on parole of any offender who has been convicted of a
felony and sentenced to imprisonment.
2. Relative to the custody and supervision of parolees, authorize a reduction in the
level of supervision and fees after a parolee has served a certain length of time.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.