HLS 25RS-730 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 303
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAYHAM
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
ATTORNEY GENERAL: Creates the Fugitive Apprehension Unit within the office of the
attorney general
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 49:261, relative to the apprehension of fugitive offenders; to create the
3 Fugitive Apprehension Unit; to provide for the activities of the fugitive apprehension
4 unit; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 49:261 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง261. Department of Justice Fugitive Apprehension Unit
8 A. The attorney general shall maintain a statewide Fugitive Apprehension
9 Unit within the investigation division of the Department of Justice. The Fugitive
10 Apprehension Unit shall be comprised of special agents who shall be P.O.S.T.-
11 certified peace officers commissioned by the attorney general, intelligence analysts,
12 and support personnel. The unit shall be responsible for apprehending fugitives and
13 shall perform the following activities:
14 (1) Coordinate with and assist local, state, and federal law enforcement
15 agencies including but not limited to the Department of Public Safety and
16 Corrections, the office of state police, the office of probation and parole, sheriffs
17 departments, police departments, the United States Marshals Service, the United
18 States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other federal law enforcement
19 agencies, to apprehend fugitives.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-730 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 303
1 (2) Provide assistance to law enforcement agencies that are actively pursuing
2 fugitives and individuals who have violated the terms and conditions of court-
3 ordered electronic monitoring programs.
4 (3) Execute arrest warrants and make warrantless arrests as prescribed by
5 law.
6 (4) Give priority to proactively targeting fugitives wanted for violent felony
7 offenses, including murder, rape, armed robbery, and other heinous crimes.
8 (5) Establish or participate in fugitive task forces with other state or federal
9 law enforcement agencies to address the need for increased resources in the
10 apprehension of fugitives.
11 (6) Identify, pursue, and arrest any person who shall harbor, conceal, or aid
12 a fugitive, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the offender is a
13 fugitive, and with the intent that the fugitive may avoid or escape from arrest, trial,
14 conviction, or punishment.
15 B. The attorney general shall appoint and commission special agents who
16 shall be P.O.S.T.-certified peace officers vested with all the powers conferred by law
17 upon peace officers of this state.
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 303 Original 2025 Regular Session Bayham
Abstract: Creates the Fugitive Apprehension Unit within the office of the attorney general
to allow coordination with state and federal law enforcement officials for the
apprehension of fugitives from the law.
Present law provides for the Dept. of Justice Legal Support Fund which funds the operations
of the attorney general's office.
Present law provides that monies from this fund may be used to defray the costs of expert
witnesses, consultants, contract legal counsel, technology, specialized employee training,
and public education initiatives as well as for attorneys and support staff.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that the attorney general may use monies
from this fund to perform the duties required by the Fugitive Apprehension Unit.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-730 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 303
Proposed law provides for the creation of the Fugitive Apprehension Unit within the
investigative division of the Dept. of Justice.
Proposed law provides that the unit shall coordinate and assist with state, federal, and local
law enforcement to apprehend fugitives, pursue individuals who have violated court-ordered
electronic monitoring programs, execute arrest warrants, give priority to fugitives wanted
for violent felony offenses, establish fugitive task forces with other state or federal agencies,
and identify, pursue, or arrest those who harbor, aid, or conceal a fugitive.
Proposed law provides that the attorney general shall appoint and commission special agents
who shall be P.O.S.T.-certified peace officers.
(Amends R.S. 49:259(C)(3); Adds R.S. 49:261)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.