SLS 23RS-2277 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 149
BY SENATOR BARROW
HOUSING. Continues the Task Force on Prevention of Human Degradation and
Exploitation of Vulnerable Individuals in Community-Based Residential Settings.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To continue and provide for the Task Force on Prevention of Human Degradation and
3 Exploitation of Vulnerable Individuals in Community-Based Residential Settings.
4 WHEREAS, through Senate Resolution No. 23 of the 2018 Second Extraordinary
5 Session, the Senate formed a task force to study and make recommendations relative to
6 current and proposed regulations necessary to protect nonrelated individuals residing in a
7 single dwelling from a property owner or landlord who acts without regard to basic rights
8 and responsibilities owed to his tenants; and
9 WHEREAS, after months of research and numerous public meetings, Senate Bill No.
10 218 of the 2019 Regular Session of the Legislature was filed to establish a minimum
11 standard for shared housing establishments, which included certain residency prohibitions
12 that were suggested to be in violation of the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.; and
13 WHEREAS, in an effort to clarify that Senate Bill No. 218 was not intended to
14 discriminate against any resident, it was amended in the Senate Committee on Health and
15 Welfare to establish a rental housing registry and apply to all rental properties regardless of
16 the unique characteristics of its residents; and
17 WHEREAS, this equal application to all rental properties drew insurmountable
18 opposition from landlords and property owners who would be subject to the rental housing
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 149
SLS 23RS-2277 ORIGINAL
1 registry; and
2 WHEREAS, after meeting with the opposition and sincerely attempting to address
3 expressed concerns, Senate Bill No. 218 was amended on the Senate floor to limit the
4 requirement of the rental housing registry to single-family dwellings that were rented to four
5 or more unrelated adults, to exempt apartments, complexes, and residential dwellings
6 licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Department of Children
7 and Family Services, and to place all authority for implementation and enforcement with the
8 parish and municipal governing bodies to be accomplished by local ordinance; and
9 WHEREAS, even with these significant changes to Senate Bill No. 218, the
10 opposition was unwavering, and due to the short nature of a regular fiscal legislative session,
11 time did not allow for further negotiation; and
12 WHEREAS, the Task Force on Prevention of Human Degradation and Exploitation
13 of Vulnerable Individuals in Community-Based Residential Settings was continued and
14 otherwise provided for by Senate Resolution No. 203 of the 2019 Regular Session of the
15 Legislature, recreated by Senate Resolution No. 52 of the 2020 Second Extraordinary
16 Session of the Legislature, and continued by Senate Resolution No. 120 of the 2021 Regular
17 Session and Senate Resolution No. 217 of the 2022 Regular Session of the Legislature; and
18 WHEREAS, the Task Force on Prevention of Human Degradation and Exploitation
19 of Vulnerable Individuals in Community-Based Residential Setting seeks to conclude the
20 study and make recommendations to the Senate with a legal and fair solution that works for
21 all to the problem of unregulated rental housing.
22 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
23 does hereby continue and provide with respect to the Task Force on Prevention of Human
24 Degradation and Exploitation of Vulnerable Individuals in Community-Based Residential
25 Settings created by Senate Resolution No. 23 of the 2018 Second Extraordinary Session of
26 the Legislature, continued by Senate Resolution No. 203 of the 2019 Regular Session of the
27 Legislature, recreated by Senate Resolution No. 52 of the 2020 Second Extraordinary
28 Session of the Legislature, and continued by Senate Resolution No. 120 of the 2021 Regular
29 Session and Senate Resolution No. 217 of the 2022 Regular Session of the Legislature.
30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the current members of the task force shall
Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 149
SLS 23RS-2277 ORIGINAL
1 continue with their service.
2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall continue to conduct the study
3 with the same focus as set forth in its original charge and continued in the subsequent Senate
4 Resolutions.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet as often as is necessary
6 to fulfill its mission, and shall submit a report, including any legislative proposal, to the
7 Louisiana Senate on or before March 1, 2024.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall terminate on July 1, 2024.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
10 secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, the state health officer, the director of the
11 health standards section within the Louisiana Department of Health, the director of the adult
12 protective services section within the Louisiana Department of Health, the secretary of the
13 Department of Children and Family Services, the attorney general, the state fire marshal, the
14 executive director of the Louisiana Municipal Association, the executive director of the
15 Police Jury Association of Louisiana, the executive director of the Advocacy Center of
16 Louisiana, the executive director of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, the executive
17 director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, the president of the Building
18 Officials Association of Louisiana, the executive director of the Apartment Association of
19 Louisiana, Inc., the executive director of the Louisiana Home Builders Association, the
20 executive director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation, the executive director of the
21 Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, the president of the Louisiana Hospital
22 Association, and the executive director of the Voice of the Experienced.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alana M. Perrin.
DIGEST
SR 149 Original 2023 Regular Session Barrow
Continues the Task Force on Prevention of Human Degradation and Exploitation of
Vulnerable Individuals in Community-Based Residential Settings.
Page 3 of 3