HLS 24RS-613 REENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 578
BY REPRESENTATIVES LYONS, BOYD, BRYANT, ROBBY CARTER, WILFORD
CARTER, CHASSION, COX, GREEN, KNOX, LAFLEUR, MOORE, NEWELL,
SELDERS, TAYLOR, THOMPSON, WALTERS, AND WILLARD
CORRECTIONS: Creates the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program
1 AN ACT
2To enact Part V-B of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised
3 of R.S. 15:956, relative to children; to establish the Back on Track Youth Pilot
4 Program; to provide for a purpose; to provide for a curriculum; to provide for
5 administration of the program; to provide for eligibility; and to provide for related
6 matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Part V-B of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised
9of R.S. 15:956, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 PART V-B. BACK ON TRACK YOUTH PILOT PROGRAM
11 ยง956. Back on Track Youth Pilot Program
12 A. The Back on Track Youth Pilot Program is hereby established with the
13 express purpose of giving youths an option other than some form of criminal activity.
14 B. Within this program, youths shall be able to participate in programs that
15 include but are not limited to the following curriculum:
16 (1) Occupational or vocational training.
17 (2) Life skills.
18 (3) Healthy choices.
19 (4) Literacy instruction.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-613 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 578
1 C. This program shall be administered by selected nonprofit groups as well
2 as the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the Department of Children and
3 Family Services, the Department of Education, and the Louisiana Workforce
4 Commission.
5 D. Eligibility shall be established based on a variety of criteria including but
6 not limited to any of the following:
7 (1) The income of the youth's family.
8 (2) Whether the youth is considered at risk with behavior that indicates
9 aggression or disruption, disciplinary problems, or delinquency.
10 (3) Demographic locations in the state.
11 E. For the purposes of this Section, "youth or youths" shall mean a person
12 who has not attained eighteen years of age.
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 578 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Lyons
Abstract: Creates the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program.
Proposed law creates the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program with the express purpose of
giving youths an option other than some form of criminal activity.
Proposed law provides that within this program, youths shall be able to participate in
programs that include but are not limited to the following curriculum:
(1)Occupational or vocational training.
(2)Life skills.
(3)Healthy choices.
(4)Literacy instruction.
Proposed law provides that this program shall be administered by selected nonprofit groups
as well as the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, the Dept. of Children and Family
Services, the Dept. of Education, and the La. Workforce Commission.
Proposed law provides that eligibility shall be established based on a variety of criteria
including but not limited to any of the following:
(1)The income of the youth's family.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-613 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 578
(2)Whether the youth is considered at risk with behavior that indicates aggression or
disruption, disciplinary problems, or delinquency.
(3)Demographic locations in the state.
Proposed law defines the term "youth or youths".
(Adds R.S. 15:956)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Change references from "juveniles" to "youths".
3. Remove the Dept. of Veterans Affairs as one of the administering entities of the
program.
4. Define the term "youth or youths".
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.