HLS 25RS-303 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 27
BY REPRESENTATIVE GALLE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Provides relative to the release of inmates during a
declared disaster
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 29:740, relative to emergency declarations; to provide relative to the release
3 of inmates during declared emergencies; to provide relative to the authority of the
4 Department of Public Safety and Corrections; to provide relative to the authority of
5 sheriffs; to provide relative to the authority of certain private contractors; to provide
6 for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 29:740 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง740. Procedure to obtain authority to release inmates during declared emergency
10 A. During a declared emergency, the release of inmates within the declared
11 area of the emergency by the Department of Safety and Corrections or any local
12 facility housing inmates is prohibited except pursuant to an individualized court
13 order.
14 B. During a declared emergency, no court or other officer, including any
15 sheriff operating a parish prison or private contractor operating a prison, shall have
16 authority and are expressly prohibited from releasing any inmate or prisoner except
17 pursuant to a court order issued pursuant to a motion served upon the district attorney
18 of a parish within the area of the declared emergency.
19 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
20signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-303 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 27
1by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
2vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
3effective on the day following such approval.
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 27 Original 2025 Regular Session Galle
Abstract: Prohibits the release of inmates during a declared state of emergency without a
court order.
Proposed law provides that during a declared emergency, the release of inmates within the
declared area of the emergency by the DPS&C or any local facility housing inmates is
prohibited except pursuant to an individualized court order.
Proposed law provides that during a declared emergency, no court or other officer, including
any sheriff operating a parish prison or private contractor operating a prison, shall have
authority and are expressly prohibited from releasing any inmate or prisoner except pursuant
to a court order issued pursuant to a motion served upon the district attorney of a parish
within the area of the declared emergency.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 29:740)
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.