2014  Legislative  Priorities   OVERVIEW   Louisiana  has  the  nation’s  highest  rate  of  incarceration.  The  state  has  seen  a   dramatic   increase   in   its   prison   population   over   the   past   twenty   years,   in   part   because   of   mandatory   minimum   sentencing   laws   that   result   in   a   growing   number  of  non-­‐violent  offenders  serving  long  prison  terms  without  benefit  of   parole.     This   is   costing   the   state   hundreds   of   millions   of   dollars   in   increased   corrections   expenditures,   to   say   nothing   of   social   costs   that   cannot   be   calculated.   The   fact   that   so   many   young   men   and   women   are   behind   bars   also  exacerbates  the  state’s  growing  labor  shortage.   While   many   other   states   experienced   increased   incarceration   rates   in   this   time   period,   legislators   around   the   country   have   begun   taking   steps   to   reduce  prison  populations  without  compromising  public  safety.     Notably,  conservative  states  like  Texas  and  Georgia  have  taken  steps  to  steer   nonviolent   offenders   away   from   prison,   emphasize   rehabilitation   over   jail   time,  and  reduce  penalties  for  many  drug  and  property  crimes.     These  reforms  have  received  broad  bipartisan  support  across  the  nation.  The   business   community   is   playing   an   increasingly   important   role   in   this   trend,   and  a  statewide  consortium  of  business,  religious  and  civic  organizations  are   committed  to  developing  a  more  just  and  sustainable  criminal  justice  system.   The   Smart   on   Crime   campaign   seeks   to   apply   relevant   lessons   from   other   states   to   Louisiana.   Reforms   that   lead   to   fewer   nonviolent   offenders   being   incarcerated   will   save   the   state   millions   of   dollars   and,   if   a   portion   of   that   savings   is   invested   in   alternatives   to   incarceration,   increase   the   likelihood   that  ex-­‐offenders  can  successfully  rejoin  society.         643  Magazine  Street,  Suite  301  Ÿ  New  Orleans,  LA  70130       OPENING  DOORS  TO  THE  WORKFORCE     1. Provisional   Occupational   Licenses:   HB911   (Leger)   allows   certain   ex-­‐ offenders   to   obtain   a   provisional,   or   probationary,   occupational   license   if   they   are   otherwise   qualified.   This   bill   will   make   it   easier   for   qualified   ex-­‐ offenders  to  rejoin  the  workforce.     HB   1273,   the   substitute   bill   to   HB   911,   has   been   sent   to   the   Governor   for   executive  approval.   2. Civil   Liability   Protection:   SB339   (Donahue)/HB505   (Dixon)   would   immunize  employers  who  hire  ex-­‐offenders  without  a  violent  or  sex  offense   from   being   sued   on   that   basis   alone.   This   will   increase   the   likelihood   that   employers  will  consider  hiring  qualified  ex-­‐offenders.       HB  505  has  been  sent  to  the  Governor  for  executive  approval.   3. Pointe   Coupee   Parish   Pilot   Program:  HB781   (Thibaut)  would   create   a   pilot  program  in  Pointe  Coupee  Parish  to  rehabilitate  and  support  offenders.   The  “Offender  Reentry  Support  Pilot  Program"  would  be  maintained  by  the   Parish   Sheriff   and   would   provide   offenders   with   assistance   to   facilitate   reentry  into  society  following  incarceration.       HB  781  has  been  sent  to  the  Governor  for  executive  approval.   EXPANDING  ALTERNATIVES  TO  INCARCERATION   4. Veteran’s   Courts   Program:   SB532   (E.   Guillory)   authorizes   courts   to   create  specialized  Veteran’s  Treatment  Court  Programs  throughout  Louisiana   to   assist   veterans   overcoming   drug   and   substance   abuse   issues   and   any   mental   health   issues   contributing   to   involvement   with   the   criminal   justice   system.   The   court   programs   will   operate   like   current   drug   court   programs   throughout   the   state   but   will   function   in   a   manner   specifically   tailored   for   veterans.   These   specialized   courts   can   tap   into   available   federal   resources   and  will  help  veterans  access  federal  veteran  programs  and  services  offered   for  reintegration  and  rehabilitation.     SB  532  has  been  sent  to  the  Governor  for  executive  approval.       643  Magazine  Street,  Suite  301  Ÿ  New  Orleans,  LA  70130       5. Community-­‐Based   Corrections:   HB914   (Leger)   creates   the   Community   Corrections   Performance   Incentive   Act   and   applies   cost   savings   from   reduced   incarceration   costs   to   building   up   community-­‐based   corrections.   This   bill   provides   for   an   annual   calculation   of   savings   from   reduced   recidivism   and   applies   a   portion   of   these   savings   to   implementing   practices  that  are  demonstrated  to  further  reduce  recidivism.   HCR  146,  the  study  resolution  which  replaces  HB  914  has  been  signed  by  the   Speaker  and  President.   SENSIBLE  GUIDELINES  FOR  PAROLE  ELIGIBILITY   6. Cleansing  Period:  SB383  (LaFleur/Mills)  provides  that  an  offense  will   not   be   counted   as   a   second   or   subsequent   offense   if   more   than   ten   years   have  lapsed  since  expiration  of  maximum  sentence  for  prior  conviction.  This   would  apply  only  to  non-­‐violent  and  non-­‐sex  offenses,  and  would  result  in  a   greater   number   of   non-­‐violent   offenders   being   eligible   for   parole   consideration.     SB  383  has  been  signed  by  the  Governor  and  is  Act  126.   7. Medical   Parole:   HB210   (Jefferson)   would   amend   current   law   to   expand  eligibility  for  medical  parole.  The  proposed  reforms  would  enable  the   Department   of   Corrections   to   more   efficiently   and   preemptively   utilize   the   Medical  Parole  Procedure,  further  tap  into  existing  cost-­‐effective  treatment   alternatives   to   offset   the   medical   cost   of   these   infirm   inmates,   and   curb   DOC’s  increasing  need  to  dedicate  additional  wings  at  Correctional  institutes   specifically  to  infirm  inmates.     HB210  has  been  signed  by  the  Governor  and  is  Act  153.           643  Magazine  Street,  Suite  301  Ÿ  New  Orleans,  LA  70130       SMARTER  SENTENCING  FOR  NON-­‐VIOLENT  OFFENDERS   8. Marijuana   Possession:   SB323   (Morrell/Adley)   provides   that   simple   possession   of   marijuana   would   be   a   misdemeanor   upon   second   and   subsequent  conviction,  rather  than  enhanced  to  a  felony  grade  offense  with   increasing   penalties.   The   state   would   save   millions   of   dollars   in   supervision   and   incarceration   costs   by   making   this   change.   This   would   not   affect   possession  with  intent  to  distribute,  cultivation,  or  distribution.   SB  323  by  Morrell  and  Adley/Simple  Possession  of  Marijuana   was   deferred   (4-­‐3)  in  Senate  Judiciary  C  on  Tuesday,  April  22.   9. Safety   Valve:   HB745   (Moreno)   would   give   the   judge   discretion   in   certain   non-­‐violent/non-­‐sex   cases   to   depart   from   mandatory   minimum   sentences.   This   would   generally   impact   sentences   for   drug   offenses.   This   legislation   is   based   upon   a   statute   passed   and   successfully   implemented   in   Georgia.   HB   745   by   Moreno/Safety   Valve   was   voluntarily   deferred.   Smart   on   Crime   remains  committed  to  this  issue  and  continues  to  work  to  push  Louisiana  to   depart  from  mandatory  minimum  sentences  for  non-­‐violent/non-­‐sex  cases.   643  Magazine  Street,  Suite  301  Ÿ  New  Orleans,  LA  70130