ENROLLED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 285
BY REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT
1 AN ACT
2 To 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.
7 Be 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,
9 comprised 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.
21 B. For purposes of investigation, the elections compliance unit division shall
22 have the authority to:
23 (1) Issue subpoenas to compel the production of records and other
24 documents from any registrar of voters.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 285 ENROLLED
1 (2) Receive sworn statements.
2 C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a member of
3 the Elections Compliance Unit an employee of the division, upon the receipt of a
4 complaint of any election irregularity, may enter a polling place during early voting
5 or on election day for the purposes of checking the overall operations of the polling
6 place or investigating any potential violation of the Louisiana Election Code.
7 D. If during the course of investigation, the elections compliance unit
8 division determines that there may be a violation of any criminal law or provision
9 of the Louisiana Election Code, the findings of the investigation shall be turned over
10 to the appropriate prosecutorial agency for further investigation or prosecution.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.