SLS 22RS-565 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 59
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.
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SLS 22RS-565 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 state senator for Senate District 34, and at its first meeting the study group shall
25 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
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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 provide a written report
9 of its findings, and any recommendations it may have, to the Senate, and as required by R.S.
10 24:771 and 772, by February 1, 2023.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
12 governor, the secretary of state, the deputy secretary of the Department of Public Safety and
13 Corrections, corrections services, the state public defender, the executive director of the
14 Louisiana District Attorneys Association, the executive director of the Louisiana Sheriffs'
15 Association, the executive director of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, the
16 executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, the president of the
17 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 Whitney Kauffeld.
DIGEST
SR 59 Original 2022 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
2/1/23.
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