HLS 24RS-558 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 285
BY REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT
STATE DEPARTMENT: Provides for the division of election integrity within the
Department of State
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact Part V of Chapter 2 of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
3 1950, comprised of R.S. 18:49.1, relative to the Department of State; to provide
4 relative to investigations of election irregularities; to change the name of the
5 elections compliance unit to the division of election integrity; and to provide for
6 related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Part V of Chapter 2 of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
9comprised of R.S. 18:49.1, is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
10 PART V. ELECTIONS COMPLIANCE UNIT
11 DIVISION OF ELECTION INTEGRITY
12 ยง49.1. Elections compliance unit Division of election integrity; powers and duties
13 A. An elections compliance unit The division of election integrity is created
14 in the Department of State. The purposes of the unit division shall be to:
15 (1) Initiate independent inquiries and conduct independent investigations
16 into allegations of election irregularities in any municipality or parish of the state.
17 (2) Respond to notifications or complaints alleging election irregularities
18 generated by election officials or any other person.
19 (3) Review notices and reports of election irregularities and conduct
20 investigations of any incidents that it determines require further investigation.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-558 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 285
1 B. For purposes of investigation, the elections compliance unit division shall
2 have the authority to:
3 (1) Issue subpoenas to compel the production of records and other
4 documents from any registrar of voters.
5 (2) Receive sworn statements.
6 C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a member of
7 the Elections Compliance Unit an employee of the division, upon the receipt of a
8 complaint of any election irregularity, may enter a polling place during early voting
9 or on election day for the purposes of checking the overall operations of the polling
10 place or investigating any potential violation of the Louisiana Election Code.
11 D. If during the course of investigation, the elections compliance unit
12 division determines that there may be a violation of any criminal law or provision
13 of the Louisiana Election Code, the findings of the investigation shall be turned over
14 to the appropriate prosecutorial agency for further investigation or prosecution.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 285 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Wright
Abstract: Changes the name of the elections compliance unit to the division of election
integrity.
Present law provides for an elections compliance unit in the Dept. of State to initiate
independent inquiries and conduct independent investigations into allegations of election
irregularities in any municipality or parish; respond to complaints or notifications alleging
election irregularities; and review notices and reports of election irregularities and conduct
investigations of any incidents that it determines require further investigation. Provides that
the unit has the authority to issue subpoenas to compel the production of records and other
documents from the registrar of voters and receive sworn statements. Authorizes a member
of the elections compliance unit upon receipt of a complaint of any election irregularity to
enter a polling place during early voting or on election day for the purposes of checking the
overall operations of the polling place or investigating any potential violation of the election
code. Requires the elections compliance unit to turn over its findings to the appropriate
prosecutorial agency if it determines that there may be a violation of any criminal law or
provision of the election code.
Proposed law changes the name of the elections compliance unit to the division of election
integrity, makes technical changes, and otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 18:49.1)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.