2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 8
BY SENATORS KLEINPETER, ABRAHAM, ALLAIN, BARROW, BERNARD,
BOUDREAUX, BOUIE, CARTER, CATHEY, CLOUD, CONNICK,
CORTEZ, DUPLESSIS, FESI, FIELDS, FOIL, HENRY, HENSGENS,
HEWITT, JACKSON, LAMBERT, LUNEAU, MCMATH, MILLIGAN,
FRED MILLS, ROBERT MILLS, MIZELL, MORRIS, PEACOCK,
POPE, PRICE, REESE, SMITH, STINE, TALBOT, TARVER, WHITE
AND WOMACK AND REPRESENTATIVES AMEDEE, BEAULLIEU,
BOYD, BROWN, CARRIER, DESHOTEL, EDMONDS,
EDMONSTON, FARNUM, FIRMENT, FISHER, FONTENOT,
GADBERRY, GAROFALO, HARRIS, HORTON, ILLG, MIKE
JOHNSON, TRAVIS JOHNSON, KNOX, LACOMBE, LAFLEUR,
LARVADAIN, LYONS, MACK, MARCELLE, MIGUEZ, GREGORY
MILLER, NELSON, NEWELL, CHARLES OWEN, SCHAMERHORN,
SCHLEGEL, SELDERS, THOMAS AND WRIGHT
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To create and provide for the Task Force on Safety for Law Enforcement Officers Involved
in High Speed Vehicle Pursuits.
WHEREAS, law enforcement professionals provide critical and necessary services
to motorists in one of the most dangerous work environments; and
WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor
vehicle-related incidents are a leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for law enforcement
officers in the United States, evidenced by the fact that thirty-three percent of all line-of-duty
deaths between the years 2011 through 2020 were due to motor vehicle-related
incidents; and
WHEREAS, the risk of death to innocent bystanders and loss of property is greatly
enhanced when a law enforcement officer is required to engage in a high speed vehicle
pursuit to apprehend a dangerous criminal; and
WHEREAS, University of Washington researchers found that each year
approximately three hundred fatalities in the United States occur during police pursuits and
more than thirty percent of the fatalities were innocent bystanders who were not involved
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in the pursuit; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, local law
enforcement agencies provide approximately ninety percent of all automobile-related law
enforcement services to the public; and
WHEREAS, local law enforcement agencies face unique challenges in terms of
safety training due to limited funding and a limited pool of qualified candidates willing to
serve; and
WHEREAS, the legislature recognizes that the vast majority of law enforcement
officers are committed to working diligently to keep our roadways safe; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the public to find ways to increase safety
training and enhance protocols for law enforcement officers involved in high speed vehicle
pursuits in order to limit injuries and deaths of both officers and innocent people who were
not involved in the high speed pursuit.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
establish and provide for the Task Force on Safety for Law Enforcement Officers Involved
in High Speed Vehicle Pursuits to study and review police officer training and protcols for
safety when the officer is involved in a high speed vehicle pursuit.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet as necessary and shall
report its findings to the legislature, including submission of one printed copy and one
electronic copy thereof to the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library, not later than
February 15, 2024, and shall terminate upon the date of submission of such report or
February 15, 2024, whichever occurs first.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall include consideration of
available low cost or no cost training for local law enforcement agencies, available sources
of funds to assist local law enforcement agencies with the costs of providing necessary
training and effective protocols, possible enhancement of criminal penalties for perpetrators
who instigate high speed vehicle pursuits with law enforcement, and such other related
topics as is determined relevant by the chairperson or by the task force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall consist of the following
members:
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(1) One senator appointed by the president of the Senate who shall serve as the
chairperson.
(2) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(3) One employee of the Louisiana State Police, appointed by the superintendent.
(4) The executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association or this
designee
(5) The state public defender or his designee.
(6) The executive director of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association or his designee.
(7) One member of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police appointed by the
president of the association.
(8) One member of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and
Administration of Criminal Justice appointed by the executive director.
(9) The executive director of the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation
Safety at Louisiana State University or his designee.
(10) The president of the Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police or his designee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this task force shall serve
without compensation, except per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be
individually entitled as members of the constituent organizations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the total membership shall
constitute a quorum of the task force and any official action by the task force shall require
an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum present and voting.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the names of the members chosen, designated,
or elected as provided herein shall be submitted to the president of the Senate by August 1,
2023, and the chair shall thereafter call the first meeting of the task force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Senate Legislative Services shall provide staff
support to the task force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may request additional staff
support from the Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement
and Administration of Criminal Justice.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Louisiana State Police, Louisiana District Attorneys Association, the state public defender,
the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, the Center
for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at Louisiana State University, the
Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police, and the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement
and Administration of Criminal Justice.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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