SLS 21RS-458 ORIGINAL 2021 Regular Session SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 22 BY SENATOR JACKSON VOTERS/VOTING. Creates a study group to study the voting rights of persons incarcerated prior to trial. 1 A RESOLUTION 2 To create a study group to study the voting rights of persons who are incarcerated prior to 3 trial and the procedures available to those persons to cast their ballots. 4 WHEREAS, voting is a civic duty of paramount importance; and 5 WHEREAS, the right to vote is protected by the Constitution of the United States of 6 America and the Constitution of Louisiana; and 7 WHEREAS, it is important to recognize the immeasurable value one vote can have; 8 and 9 WHEREAS, it is important that each Louisiana citizen who is eligible to vote be able 10 to exercise that right; and 11 WHEREAS, persons who are incarcerated in institutions inside or outside the parish 12 in which they are qualified to vote, but who are not under an order of imprisonment for 13 conviction of a felony, including those incarcerated prior to trial, may still exercise their 14 right to vote, and by doing so make their voices heard and participate in the democratic 15 process; and 16 WHEREAS, the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana is committed to exploring 17 every possible means that may positively affect the potential for every eligible citizen to 18 participate in the life of their community and state by voting. Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 22 SLS 21RS-458 ORIGINAL 1 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana 2 does hereby create a study group to study the voting rights of persons who are incarcerated 3 prior to trial and the procedures available to those persons to cast their ballots, including any 4 means available, or that might be made available, to facilitate voting by those persons, and 5 any impediments that exist to voting by those persons. 6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group shall be composed of the 7 following members: 8 (1) The governor, or his designee. 9 (2) The secretary of state, or his designee. 10 (3) The deputy secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, 11 corrections services, or his designee. 12 (4) The state public defender, or his designee. 13 (5) The executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, or his 14 designee. 15 (6) The executive director of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, or his designee. 16 (7) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, or his 17 designee. 18 (8) The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, or his 19 designee. 20 (9) The president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 21 (NAACP), Louisiana State Conference, or his designee. 22 (10) The executive director of Voice of the Experienced, or his designee. 23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the first meeting of the study group shall be 24 called by the senator representing Senate District No. 34, and at its first meeting the study 25 group shall select a chair. 26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group shall meet at such times and 27 places as determined by its chair, and it may elect a vice chair and other officers as deemed 28 necessary by the study group. 29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the study group shall serve 30 without compensation, except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 22 SLS 21RS-458 ORIGINAL 1 individually entitled to as members of their constituent organizations. 2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the total membership shall 3 constitute a quorum of the study group, and any official action by the study group shall 4 require an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum present and voting. 5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group shall be staffed, at the discretion 6 of the study group members, by the staff of one or more of the entities from which the study 7 group's membership is designated or appointed. 8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group shall make a written report of 9 its findings, and any recommendations it may have, to the Senate of the Louisiana 10 Legislature, and as required by R.S. 24:771 and 772, by February 1, 2022. 11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted 12 to the governor, the secretary of state, the deputy secretary of the Department of Public 13 Safety and Corrections, corrections services, the state public defender, the executive director 14 of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, the executive director of the Louisiana 15 Sheriffs' Association, the executive director of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, 16 the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, the president of 17 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Louisiana State 18 Conference, and the executive director of Voice of the Experienced. The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alden A. Clement Jr. DIGEST SR 22 Original 2021 Regular Session Jackson Creates a group to study the voting rights of persons incarcerated prior to trial and requires the group to report to the Senate and the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library by 2/1/22. Page 3 of 3