Louisiana House Bill HB871

Louisiana 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/28/22
• Refer: 3/29/22
• Report Pass: 5/9/22
• Engrossed: 5/31/22
• Refer: 6/1/22

Caption

Provides relative to a failure to honor a written promise to appear (RE -$4,779,681 SG RV See Note)

Impact

The bill significantly impacts existing state laws concerning the process and penalties imposed on individuals who do not appear in court as required. Under current law, individuals face immediate penalties and fees following their failure to appear. HB 871 attempts to streamline this process by postponing the notice of failure to appear and allowing individuals to avoid reinstatement fees if they provide proof of resolution of their matter. This change could potentially reduce the number of individuals who face immediate repercussions from minor oversights, thereby promoting fairness in the judicial system.

Summary

House Bill 871 introduces provisions related to individuals who fail to honor a written promise to appear in court. The bill allows judges to postpone notifying the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C) about a person's failure to appear until 60 days after the scheduled appearance. This modification aims to provide individuals additional time to comply with their court obligations before facing penalties. By doing so, the bill seeks to alleviate some immediate burdens placed on those who may inadvertently miss their appearances.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 871 appears broadly supportive, especially among legislators and advocates for judicial reform. Supporters argue that the bill is a necessary measure to make the judicial process less punitive for non-violent offenders who may simply be navigating personal difficulties or misunderstandings related to court dates. However, there are also some concerns from critics about the potential for individuals to exploit the extended timeframe for appearances.

Contention

Notable points of contention center around the balance between encouraging compliance with court appearances and the potential for leniency to be abused. Critics worry that this delay in repercussions could lead to longer delays in court proceedings and thereby hinder the judicial process. However, proponents assert that the bill facilitates a more humane and fair approach to addressing failures to appear without compromising the overall integrity of the court system.