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2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 280
BY REPRESENTATIVE FONTENOT
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 15:574.4(B)(2), (D)(1), (E)(1), (F)(1), (G)(1), and (J)(1), relative
3 to parole eligibility of juvenile offenders; to provide relative to duplicative language
4 with respect to qualifications for parole; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 15:574.4(B)(2), (D)(1), (E)(1), (F)(1), (G)(1), and (J)(1) are hereby
7 amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 §574.4. Parole; eligibility; juvenile offenders
9 * * *
10 B.
11 * * *
12 (2) Except as provided in R.S. 15:574.22, any person serving a life sentence,
13 with or without the benefit of parole, who has not been convicted of a crime of
14 violence as defined by R.S. 14:2(B), a sex offense as defined by R.S. 15:541, or an
15 offense, regardless of the date of conviction, which would constitute a crime of
16 violence as defined by R.S. 14:2(B) or a sex offense as defined by R.S. 15:541, shall
17 be eligible for parole consideration as follows:
18 (a) If the person was at least eighteen years of age and under the age of
19 twenty-five years at the time he was sentenced to life imprisonment, he shall be
20 eligible for parole consideration if all of the following conditions have been met:
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1 (i) The person has served at least twenty-five years of the sentence imposed.
2 (ii) The person has obtained a low risk level designation determined by a
3 validated risk assessment instrument approved by the secretary of the Department
4 of Public Safety and Corrections. The person has met the requirements listed in
5 Subparagraphs (A)(4)(b) through (f) of this Section.
6 (iii) The person has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the
7 thirty-six consecutive months prior to the parole hearing date. A major disciplinary
8 offense is an offense identified as a Schedule B offense by the Department of Public
9 Safety and Corrections in the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Adult Offenders.
10 (iv) The person has completed the mandatory minimum of one hundred
11 hours of pre-release programming in accordance with the provisions of R.S.
12 15:827.1, if such programming is available at the facility where the offender is
13 incarcerated.
14 (v) The person has completed substance abuse treatment, if applicable and
15 such treatment is available at the facility where the offender is incarcerated.
16 (vi) The person has obtained or completed at least one of the following:
17 (aa) A literacy program.
18 (bb) An adult basic education program.
19 (cc) A job skills training program.
20 (dd) A high school equivalency certificate.
21 (b) If the person was at least twenty-five years of age and under the age of
22 thirty-five years at the time he was sentenced to life imprisonment, he shall be
23 eligible for parole consideration if all of the following conditions have been met:
24 (i) The person has served at least twenty years of the sentence imposed.
25 (ii) The person has obtained a low risk level designation determined by a
26 validated risk assessment instrument approved by the secretary of the Department
27 of Public Safety and Corrections. The person has met the requirements listed in
28 Subparagraphs (A)(4)(b) through (f) of this Section.
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1 (iii) The person has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the
2 thirty-six consecutive months prior to the parole hearing date. A major disciplinary
3 offense is an offense identified as a Schedule B offense by the Department of Public
4 Safety and Corrections in the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Adult Offenders.
5 (iv) The person has completed the mandatory minimum of one hundred
6 hours of pre-release programming in accordance with the provisions of R.S.
7 15:827.1, if such programming is available at the facility where the offender is
8 incarcerated.
9 (v) The person has completed substance abuse treatment, if applicable and
10 such treatment is available at the facility where the offender is incarcerated.
11 (vi) The person has obtained or completed at least one of the following:
12 (aa) A literacy program.
13 (bb) An adult basic education program.
14 (cc) A job skills training program.
15 (dd) A high school equivalency certificate.
16 (c) If the person was at least thirty-five years of age and under the age of
17 fifty years at the time he was sentenced to life imprisonment, he shall be eligible for
18 parole consideration if all of the following conditions have been met:
19 (i) The person has served at least fifteen years of the sentence imposed.
20 (ii) The person has obtained a low risk level designation determined by a
21 validated risk assessment instrument approved by the secretary of the Department
22 of Public Safety and Corrections. The person has met the requirements listed in
23 Subparagraphs (A)(4)(b) through (f) of this Section.
24 (iii) The person has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the
25 thirty-six consecutive months prior to the parole hearing date. A major disciplinary
26 offense is an offense identified as a Schedule B offense by the Department of Public
27 Safety and Corrections in the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Adult Offenders.
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1 (iv) The person has completed the mandatory minimum of one hundred
2 hours of pre-release programming in accordance with the provisions of R.S.
3 15:827.1, if such programming is available at the facility where the offender is
4 incarcerated.
5 (v) The person has completed substance abuse treatment, if applicable and
6 such treatment is available at the facility where the offender is incarcerated.
7 (vi) The person has obtained or completed at least one of the following:
8 (aa) A literacy program.
9 (bb) An adult basic education program.
10 (cc) A job skills training program.
11 (dd) A high school equivalency certificate.
12 (d) If the person was at least fifty years of age at the time he was sentenced
13 to life imprisonment, he shall be eligible for parole consideration if all of the
14 following conditions have been met:
15 (i) The person has served at least ten years of the sentence imposed.
16 (ii) The person has obtained a low risk level designation determined by a
17 validated risk assessment instrument approved by the secretary of the Department
18 of Public Safety and Corrections. The person has met the requirements listed in
19 Subparagraphs (A)(4)(b) through (f) of this Section.
20 (iii) The person has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the
21 thirty-six consecutive months prior to the parole hearing date. A major disciplinary
22 offense is an offense identified as a Schedule B offense by the Department of Public
23 Safety and Corrections in the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Adult Offenders.
24 (iv) The person has completed the mandatory minimum of one hundred
25 hours of pre-release programming in accordance with the provisions of R.S.
26 15:827.1, if such programming is available at the facility where the offender is
27 incarcerated.
28 (v) The person has completed substance abuse treatment if applicable and
29 such treatment is available at the facility where the offender is incarcerated.
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1 (vi) The person has obtained or completed at least one of the following:
2 (aa) A literacy program.
3 (bb) An adult basic education program.
4 (cc) A job skills training program.
5 (dd) A high school equivalency certificate.
6 * * *
7 D.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any person
8 serving a sentence of life imprisonment who was under the age of eighteen years at
9 the time of the commission of the offense, except for a person serving a life sentence
10 for a conviction of first degree murder (R.S. 14:30) or second degree murder (R.S.
11 14:30.1), shall be eligible for parole consideration pursuant to the provisions of this
12 Subsection if all of the following conditions have been met:
13 (a) The offender has served twenty-five years of the sentence imposed.
14 (b) The offender has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the
15 thirty-six consecutive months prior to the parole hearing date. A major disciplinary
16 offense is an offense identified as a Schedule B offense by the Department of Public
17 Safety and Corrections in the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Adult Offenders.
18 The offender has met the requirements listed in Subparagraphs (A)(4)(b) through (f)
19 of this Section.
20 (c) The offender has completed the mandatory minimum of one hundred
21 hours of prerelease programming in accordance with R.S. 15:827.1.
22 (d) The offender has completed substance abuse treatment as applicable.
23 (e) The offender has obtained or completed at least one of the following:
24 (i) A literacy program.
25 (ii) An adult basic education program.
26 (iii) A job skills training program.
27 (iv) A high school equivalency certificate.
28 (f) The offender has obtained a low-risk level designation determined by a
29 validated risk assessment instrument approved by the secretary of the Department
30 of Public Safety and Corrections.
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1 (g) The offender has completed a reentry program to be determined by the
2 Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
3 (h) (c) If the offender was convicted of aggravated or first degree rape, he
4 shall be designated a sex offender and upon release shall comply with all sex
5 offender registration and notification provisions as required by law.
6 * * *
7 E.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary and except as
8 provided in Subsection G of this Section, any person serving a sentence of life
9 imprisonment for a conviction of first degree murder (R.S. 14:30) who was under the
10 age of eighteen years at the time of the commission of the offense and whose
11 indictment for the offense is on or after August 1, 2017, shall be eligible for parole
12 consideration pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection if a judicial determination
13 has been made that the person is entitled to parole eligibility pursuant to Code of
14 Criminal Procedure Article 878.1(A) and all of the following conditions have been
15 met:
16 (a) The offender has served twenty-five years of the sentence imposed.
17 (b) The offender has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the
18 thirty-six consecutive months prior to the parole hearing date. A major disciplinary
19 offense is an offense identified as a Schedule B offense by the Department of Public
20 Safety and Corrections in the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Adult Offenders.
21 The offender has met the requirements listed in Subparagraphs (A)(4)(b) through (f)
22 of this Section.
23 (c) The offender has completed the mandatory minimum of one hundred
24 hours of prerelease programming in accordance with R.S. 15:827.1.
25 (d) The offender has completed substance abuse treatment as applicable.
26 (e) The offender has obtained or completed at least one of the following:
27 (i) A literacy program.
28 (ii) An adult basic education program.
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1 (iii) A job skills training program.
2 (iv) A high school equivalency certificate.
3 (f) The offender has obtained a low-risk level designation determined by a
4 validated risk assessment instrument approved by the secretary of the Department
5 of Public Safety and Corrections.
6 (g) The offender has completed a reentry program to be determined by the
7 Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
8 * * *
9 F.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary and except as
10 provided in Subsection G of this Section, any person serving a sentence of life
11 imprisonment for a conviction of second degree murder (R.S. 14:30.1) who was
12 under the age of eighteen years at the time of the commission of the offense and
13 whose indictment for the offense is on or after August 1, 2017, shall be eligible for
14 parole consideration if all of the following conditions have been met:
15 (a) The offender has served twenty-five years of the sentence imposed.
16 (b) The offender has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the
17 thirty-six consecutive months prior to the parole hearing date. A major disciplinary
18 offense is an offense identified as a Schedule B offense by the Department of Public
19 Safety and Corrections in the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Adult Offenders.
20 The offender has met the requirements listed in Subparagraphs (A)(4)(b) through (f)
21 of this Section.
22 (c) The offender has completed the mandatory minimum of one hundred
23 hours of pre-release programming in accordance with R.S. 15:827.1.
24 (d) The offender has completed substance abuse treatment as applicable.
25 (e) The offender has obtained or completed at least one of the following:
26 (i) A literacy program.
27 (ii) An adult basic education program.
28 (iii) A job skills training program.
29 (iv) A high school equivalency certificate.
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1 (f) The offender has obtained a low-risk level designation determined by a
2 validated risk assessment instrument approved by the secretary of the Department
3 of Public Safety and Corrections.
4 (g) The offender has completed a reentry program to be determined by the
5 Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
6 * * *
7 G.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any person
8 serving a sentence of life imprisonment for a conviction of first degree murder (R.S.
9 14:30) or second degree murder (R.S. 14:30.1) who was under the age of eighteen
10 years at the time of the commission of the offense and whose indictment for the
11 offense was prior to August 1, 2017, shall be eligible for parole consideration
12 pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection if a judicial determination has been
13 made that the person is entitled to parole eligibility pursuant to Code of Criminal
14 Procedure Article 878.1(B) and all of the following conditions have been met:
15 (a) The offender has served twenty-five years of the sentence imposed.
16 (b) The offender has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the
17 thirty-six consecutive months prior to the parole hearing date. A major disciplinary
18 offense is an offense identified as a Schedule B offense by the Department of Public
19 Safety and Corrections in the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Adult Offenders.
20 The offender has met the requirements listed in Subparagraphs (A)(4)(b) through (f)
21 of this Section.
22 (c) The offender has completed the mandatory minimum of one hundred
23 hours of pre-release programming in accordance with R.S. 15:827.1.
24 (d) The offender has completed substance abuse treatment as applicable.
25 (e) The offender has obtained or completed at least one of the following:
26 (i) A literacy program.
27 (ii) An adult basic education program.
28 (iii) A job skills training program.
29 (iv) A high school equivalency certificate.
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1 (f) The offender has obtained a low-risk level designation determined by a
2 validated risk assessment instrument approved by the secretary of the Department
3 of Public Safety and Corrections.
4 (g) The offender has completed a reentry program to be determined by the
5 Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
6 * * *
7 J.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, and except as
8 provided in Subsections D, E, F, G, and H D through H of this Section, any person
9 serving a term or terms of imprisonment that result in a period of incarceration of
10 twenty-five years or more and who was under the age of eighteen years at the time
11 of the commission of the offense shall be eligible for parole consideration pursuant
12 to the provisions of this Subsection if all of the following conditions have been met:
13 (a) The offender has served at least twenty-five years of the sentence
14 imposed.
15 (b) The offender has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the
16 thirty-six consecutive months prior to the parole hearing date. A major disciplinary
17 offense is an offense identified as a Schedule B offense by the Department of Public
18 Safety and Corrections in the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Adult Offenders.
19 The offender has met the requirements listed in Subparagraphs (A)(4)(b) through (f)
20 of this Section.
21 (c) The offender has completed the mandatory minimum of one hundred
22 hours of prerelease programming in accordance with R.S. 15:827.1.
23 (d) The offender has completed substance abuse treatment as applicable.
24 (e) The offender has obtained or completed at least one of the following:
25 (i) A literacy program.
26 (ii) An adult basic education program.
27 (iii) A job skills training program.
28 (iv) A high school equivalency certificate.
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1 (f) The offender has obtained a low-risk level designation determined by a
2 validated risk assessment instrument approved by the secretary of the Department
3 of Public Safety and Corrections.
4 (g) The offender has completed a reentry program to be determined by the
5 Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
6 * * *
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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