Louisiana HB 271: CORRECTIONS: Provides for a Transitional Residential Pilot Program for female offenders (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

Bill Text

ENROLLED
ACT No. 304
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 271
BY REPRESENTATIVE MARCELLE
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 15:828.4, relative to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections; to
3 create the Transitional Residential Pilot Program for female offenders; to provide for
4 eligibility for the program; to provide relative to the transfer of eligible female
5 offenders; to provide for a termination date; to provide relative to funding and
6 resources; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 15:828.4 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §828.4. Transitional Residential Pilot Program for female offenders; establishment
10 A. Subject to the availability of funds and appropriate resources, the
11 Department of Public Safety and Corrections is hereby authorized to create a
12 Transitional Residential Pilot Program for females in prison, which shall facilitate
13 the successful reintegration of female offenders into the community.
14 B. The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is
15 hereby authorized to transfer a female offender eligible for the Transitional
16 Residential Pilot Program, insofar as the transfer is in accordance with the custody
17 level, security, supervision, and restrictions on movement established by the
18 department to carry out the function and purpose of such transitional residential
19 program and to provide a safe, structured, and supervised transitional environment.
20 C. A female offender shall be eligible for consideration for the program if
21 all of the following conditions are met:
22 (1) The offender is willing to participate in the program.
23 (2) The offender has no convictions of a sex offense as defined by R.S.
24 15:541.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.

HB NO. 271 ENROLLED
1 (3) The offender is within two years of her projected release date.
2 (4) The offender has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the
3 two years prior to her entering the program. A major disciplinary offense is an
4 offense identified as a Schedule B offense by the Department of Public Safety and
5 Corrections in the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Adult Offenders.
6 (5) The offender has obtained a low-risk level designation determined by a
7 validated risk assessment instrument approved by the secretary of the Department
8 of Public Safety and Corrections and has received approval from the warden for
9 participation in the program.
10 D. The pilot program shall conclude on August 1, 2024, unless the
11 legislature extends this date or establishes a similar program prior to that date.
12 E. The provisions of this Section shall be implemented only to the extent that
13 funds are appropriated for this purpose and to the extent that is consistent with
14 available resources.
15 F. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall adopt rules and
16 regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the
17 provisions of this Section.
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.