2024 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 7
BY SENATOR CONNICK AND REPRESENTATIVE KNOX
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 15:909, relative to state juvenile institutions; to provide relative
3 to reporting of escapes from juvenile institutions; to expand reporting requirements
4 for juvenile escapes to facilities that house juveniles on behalf of the state; and to
5 provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 15:909 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 ยง909. Reporting of escapes from state juvenile institutions; records
9 A. The superintendent or highest ranking employee of the Department of
10 Public Safety and Corrections, Corrections Services corrections services, or the
11 person acting on behalf of the department, or the operator of a facility that houses
12 juvenile offenders on behalf of the state, who is physically present at and in charge
13 of a juvenile institution or facility that houses juvenile offenders on behalf of the
14 state at the time of an escape from that institution shall, within ten minutes after
15 being notified that a child or offender has escaped from or left the premises or
16 grounds of the institution without authority, notify or take necessary steps to insure
17 ensure the notification of every law enforcement agency, as defined in this Section,
18 and local media outlets.
19 B.(1) The superintendent or person in charge of a state juvenile institution or
20 facility that houses juvenile offenders on behalf of the state shall maintain a
21 record and description of every escape from the juvenile institution or escape from
22 a facility that houses juvenile offenders on behalf of the state of which the
23 superintendent or other person has control. The record shall list the date and time
24 of the escape, the number of offenders who escaped, the offenses for which the
25 escapees were placed at the institution, the name of each law enforcement agency
26 notified of the escape, the time each law enforcement agency was notified and the
27 name of the person receiving the notice, and the name of the department employee
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 7 ENROLLED
1 or agent who notified that law enforcement agency.
2 (2) The report provided for by this Subsection shall be available for public
3 inspection and shall list all prior escapes, if any, from the institution or facility that
4 houses juvenile offenders on behalf of the state within the last five years of prior
5 to the date of the last most recent escape. A copy of the report shall be delivered to
6 each law enforcement agency as defined in this Section and made available to local
7 media outlets and the general public upon proper submission of a public
8 records request.
9 C. The secretary of the department shall promulgate rules and regulations to
10 insure ensure the immediate reporting of all escapes from juvenile institutions and
11 facilities that house juvenile offenders on behalf of the state as required by this
12 Section.
13 D. As used in this Section,:
14 (1) "law Law enforcement agency" means the sheriff's office, all police
15 departments in the parish, and the office of state police.
16 (2) "Local media outlets" means local news services, including but not
17 limited to print, broadcast, and online platforms.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.