SLS 23RS-72 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 168
BY SENATOR MIZELL
JUVENILE JUSTICE. Creates the Task Force for Juvenile Justice Facility Standards.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To create and provide for the Task Force on Juvenile Justice Facility Standards.
3 WHEREAS, juvenile justice facilities house juveniles adjudicated of crimes while
4 they serve their sentence; and
5 WHEREAS, while the juvenile is in state custody, the state has a paternal
6 responsibility to the minor child, including providing for educational and mental health
7 needs in order to rehabilitate the child for success upon release; and
8 WHEREAS, the New York Times reported in October 2022 that Ware Youth Center
9 was the epicenter of suicide attempts by juveniles held in custody; and
10 WHEREAS, the facility failed to properly report and investigate complaints of
11 physical and sexual abuse against the children it held; and
12 WHEREAS, such a crisis exists in the juvenile justice system that children are being
13 housed in a building on the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary.
14 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
15 does hereby establish and provide for the Task Force on Juvenile Justice Facility Standards
16 to study conditions of juvenile justice facilities and to create statewide standards, and to
17 propose recommendations, together with specific proposals for legislation, if the task force
18 deems it necessary or appropriate, by written report to the Senate and to the David R.
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1 Poynter Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:771 and 772, no later than
2 March 1, 2024.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall consist of the following
4 members:
5 (1) The senator for District 12, who shall serve as chairperson.
6 (2) A representative of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections,
7 office of juvenile justice, designated by the deputy secretary.
8 (3) A representative of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.
9 (4) A member of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, designated by the
10 executive director.
11 (5) A representative of the Louisiana Department of Education who oversees K-12
12 education, designated by the state superintendent.
13 (6) A representative of the Louisiana Department of Health, office of behavioral
14 health, designated by the secretary of the department.
15 (7) A representative of the Louisiana Public Defender Board who has represented
16 juvenile clients, designated by the state public defender.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each designating authority shall submit the
18 names of designees to the task force to the senator for District 12, no later than August 1,
19 2023.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall convene for its first meeting
21 no later than September 15, 2023, at the call of the senator for District 12, and at the first
22 meeting, the members shall elect other officers as the task force may deem appropriate.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall receive staff support from
24 one or more of the entities from which the task force membership is designated or appointed,
25 at the discretion of the task force.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the task force shall constitute a
27 quorum for the transaction of business, and all official actions of the task force shall require
28 the affirmative vote of a majority of the members.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
30 without compensation, except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be
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1 individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations.
2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall terminate on the date of the
3 submission of its report, if submitted or March 1, 2024, whichever occurs first.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
5 Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of juvenile justice, the Louisiana
6 Commission on Law Enforcement, the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, the
7 Louisiana Department of Education, the Louisiana Department of Health, office of
8 behavioral health, and the Louisiana Public Defender Board.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Whitney Kauffeld.
DIGEST
SR 168 Original 2023 Regular Session Mizell
Creates the Task Force for Juvenile Justice Facility Standards to study conditions of juvenile
justice facilities and create statewide standards, and to propose recommendations, together
with specific proposals for legislation, if the task force deems it necessary or appropriate.
Provides that the task force consists of the following members:
(1)The senator for District 12, who shall serve as chairperson.
(2)A representative of the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, office of juvenile
justice, designated by the deputy secretary.
(3)A representative of the La. Commission on Law Enforcement.
(4)A member of the La. District Attorneys Association, designated by the executive
director.
(5)A representative of the La. Dept. of Education, who oversees K-12 education,
designated by the state superintendent.
(6)A representative of the La. Dept. of Health, office of behavioral health, designated
by the secretary of the department.
(7)A representative of the La. Public Defender Board, who has represented juvenile
clients, designated by the state public defender.
Provides relative to meetings of the task force, quorum, and voting.
Provides that the task force make a written report of its findings and recommendations by
March 1, 2024.
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