2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 45
BY SENATOR ABRAHAM AND REPRESENTATI VE KNOX
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To create and provide for the Task Force on Sentencing for Second Degree Murder for
persons who could have been charged as an accessory.
WHEREAS, prisoners serving a life sentence make up the largest population of
prisoners in Louisiana state prisons; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana is one of the few remaining states that requires a life sentence
for second degree murder; and
WHEREAS, some observers have noted that a sentence of life without the possibility
of parole for second degree murder committed in the course of a felony, but without the
intent to kill or inflict harm, merits further study.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
establish and provide for the Task Force on Sentencing for Second Degree Murder for
persons who could have been charged as an accessory, to study potential sentencing changes
to second degree murder and to propose recommendations, together with specific proposals
for legislation, if the task force deems it necessary or appropriate, by written report to the
legislature and to the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library as required by R.S.
24:771 and 772, no later than February 1, 2024.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall consist of the following
members:
(1) A senator from the Senate Committee on Judiciary C, appointed by the chairman.
(2) A representative from the House of Representatives Committee on
Administration of Criminal Justice, appointed by the chairman.
(3) A district judge, appointed by the Louisiana District Judges Association.
(4) The executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, or his
designee.
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(5) A public defender who has tried second degree murder cases, appointed by the
state public defender.
(6) A representative of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of
adult services, designated by the secretary.
(7) A member of the Louisiana Parole Project, appointed by the executive director.
(8) A professor from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center,
appointed by the dean.
(9) A professor from the Southern University Law Center, appointed by the dean.
(10) An attorney from the office of the attorney general, appointed by the attorney
general.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each designating authority shall submit the
names of designees to the task force to the chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary
C no later than July 1, 2023.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall convene for its first meeting
no later than September 1, 2023, at the call of the chairman of the Senate Committee on
Judiciary C, and at the first meeting the members shall elect a chairman and other officers
as the task force may deem appropriate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall receive staff support from
the Senate and may receive additional assistance from one or more of the entities from which
the task force membership is designated or appointed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the task force shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business and all official actions of the task force shall require
the affirmative vote of a majority of the members.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
without compensation except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be
individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall terminate on the date of the
submission of its report, if any, or on February 1, 2024, whichever occurs first.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Louisiana District Judges Association, the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, the state
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public defender, the attorney general, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the
Louisiana Parole Project, Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, and the
Southern University Law Center.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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