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 893 Engrossed 2022 Regular Session Hughes
Abstract: Requires certain reports by the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C) relative
to the impacts of criminal justice reform legislation and requires DPS&C to enter into
cooperative endeavors or contracts for educational opportunities for certain offenders.
Present law authorizes DPS&C to enter into cooperative endeavors or contracts with the La.
Workforce Commission, the La. Dept. of Education, and the La. community and technical colleges,
educational institutions, training facilities, and service providers to provide entrepreneurial
educational opportunities for eligible offenders.
Proposed law requires rather than authorizes DPS&C to enter into such cooperative endeavors or
contracts.
Present law requires DPS&C, in conjunction with the La. Commission on Law Enforcement and
Administration of Criminal Justice, to collect, track, analyze, forecast, and distribute data relative
to prison admissions, sentencing, habitual offender sentencing, parole, community supervision,
medical furlough, certified treatment and rehabilitation programs, workforce development programs,
and cost savings and reinvestment. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law requires DPS&C to annually report to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget
(JLCB) on the data it collects, including certain specific data analysis including information relative
to the population of individuals on probation or parole, prison admissions, certified treatment and
rehabilitation programs, workforce development, and reinvestment and savings.
Proposed law retains the requirements of present law to provide this specific information, but
changes the entity to which DPS&C provides the information. Requires the analysis of reinvestment
and savings data to be reported to JLCB in the month of July of each year. Establishes further
requirements for this report to JLCB as detailed in proposed law. Requires the analysis of probation
and parole populations, prison admissions, certified treatment and rehabilitation programs, and
workforce development to be submitted to the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal
Justice and the Senate Committee on Judiciary B no later than June 30th of each year.
With respect to the savings attributable to recent criminal justice reform legislation, present law
requires DPS&C each year to provide to the commissioner of administration and JLCB a statement
of calculated annual savings realized as a result of these reforms. Proposed law requires the report
to be submitted solely to JLCB. Present law deems 50% of the annual savings a bona fide obligation of the state and establishes the
following allocation for that portion of the savings:
(1)30% of the 50% is allocated to DPS&C to award incentive grants to parishes, judicial
districts, and nonprofit community partner organizations to expand evidence-backed prison
alternatives and reduce admissions to the state prison system.
(2)20% of the 50% is allocated to the La. Commission on Law Enforcement and the
Administration of Criminal Justice to award competitive grants for victim services.
(3)50% of the 50% is allocated to DPS&C for targeted investments in reentry services,
community supervision, educational and vocational programming, transitional work
programs, and contracts with parish jails and other local facilities that house state inmates
to incentivize expansion of recidivism reduction programming and treatment services.
Present law deems an additional 20% of the total annual savings a bona fide obligation of the state
and allocates the amount to DPS&C for juvenile justice initiatives and programs.
Proposed law retains present law but bases the percentage on the total amount of savings instead of
the bonafide amounts as follows:
(1)20% to DPS&C for juvenile justice initiatives and programs.
(2)15% to DPS&C to award incentive grants to parishes, judicial districts, and nonprofit
community partner organizations to expand evidence-backed prison alternatives and reduce
admissions to the state prison system.
(3)10% to the La. Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Criminal Justice
to award competitive grants for victim services.
(4)25% to DPS&C for targeted investments in reentry services, community supervision,
educational and vocational programming, transitional work programs, and contracts with
parish jails and other local facilities that house state inmates to incentivize expansion of
recidivism reduction programming and treatment services. Proposed law additionally
requires DPS&C to use such funds for educational and vocational programming for no less
than 50% of eligible individuals each year.
Proposed law retains the requirement of present law that 70% of the annual savings be deemed a
bona fide obligation of the state.
As previously noted, proposed law requires DPS&C to submit a report each year to JLCB regarding
the savings from criminal justice reform legislation. Proposed law requires the report to contain
information on all offenders in state facilities, offenders sentenced to DPS&C who are in the custody
of the sheriff or other local governing authority, and youth in the custody or under supervision of the
office of juvenile justice for each of the following topics: (1)The total annual savings and the calculation used to determine the savings pursuant to
proposed law.
(2)The amounts allocated pursuant to proposed law and present law and a description of how
DPS&C has used the funds in past fiscal years through FY 2014-2015 and how it plans to
use the funds in the current fiscal year.
(3)A comparison of the number of individuals eligible for educational and vocational
programming, the number of participants in educational and vocational programming, and
the total amount expended on the programming from justice reinvestment funds and any
additional sources of funds for the immediately preceding fiscal year and each prior fiscal
year through FY 2014-2015.
(4)A comparison of recidivism rates for individuals receiving community-based services,
individuals receiving educational and vocational programming, and individuals receiving a
combination of community-based services and educational and vocational programming for
the immediately preceding fiscal year and each prior fiscal year through FY 2014-2015.
(5)A comparison of post-incarceration employment rates for individuals who received
educational and vocational programming for the immediately preceding fiscal year and each
prior fiscal year through FY 2014-2015.
(Amends R.S. 15:827.1(E)(2), 827.2(A)(2) and (3), and 827.3; Repeals R.S. 15:827.2(D)(7))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal
Justice to the original bill:
1. Require rather than authorize DPS&C to enter into cooperative endeavors or contracts
with the La. Workforce Commission, the La. Dept. of Education, and the La. community
and technical colleges, and service providers for educational opportunities for certain
offenders.