Louisiana HB 351: CRIMINAL/SENTENCING: Provides relative to pleas of guilty or nolo contendere in felony cases

Bill Text

ENROLLED
ACT No. 158
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 351
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER AND SENATOR BARROW
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact Code of Criminal Procedure Article 556.1(C), relative to pleas in
3 criminal cases; to provide relative to pleas of guilty or nolo contendere in felony
4 cases; to provide relative to duties of the court; to require the court to inquire of the
5 defendant and defense counsel of plea offers made by the state; and to provide for
6 related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Code of Criminal Procedure Article 556.1(C) is hereby amended and
9 reenacted to read as follows:
10 Art. 556.1. Plea of guilty or nolo contendere in felony cases; duty of court
11 * * *
12 C.(1) The court shall also inquire as to whether the defendant's willingness
13 to plead guilty or nolo contendere results from prior discussions between the district
14 attorney and the defendant or his attorney. If a plea agreement has been reached by
15 the parties, the court, on the record, shall require the disclosure of the agreement in
16 open court or, on a showing of good cause, in camera, at the time the plea is offered.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.

HB NO. 351 ENROLLED
1 (2) The court shall further inquire of the defendant and his attorney whether
2 the defendant has been informed of all plea offers made by the state.
3 * * *
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.