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ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 296
BY REPRESENTATIVE KNOX
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 13:5401(B)(1)(g), R.S. 15:827(A)(introductory paragraph) and
3 (9)(a), 828(D), and 1113(A), R.S. 36:409(A), and R.S. 47:287.750(A) and
4 (B)(introductory paragraph), (2), and (4) and to repeal R.S. 13:5401(B)(1)(a) and
5 Part XVIII of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S.
6 15:1199.1 through 1199.16, relative to inmate workforce development; to repeal the
7 Reentry Advisory Council and Offender Rehabilitation Workforce Development Act
8 and all related cross-references, requirements, or criteria associated with
9 participation in the workforce development program or the advisory council; to
10 provide for technical corrections; and to provide for related matters.
11 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
12 Section 1. R.S. 13:5401(B)(1)(g) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as
13 follows:
14 §5401. District courts; reentry courts; subject matter
15 * * *
16 B. Participation in the workforce development sentencing program as
17 authorized by the provisions of this Section shall be subject to the following
18 provisions:
19 (1) The court may recommend that a defendant participate in the workforce
20 development sentencing program if all of the following criteria are satisfied:
21 * * *
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1 (g) Other criminal proceedings alleging commission of a crime of violence
2 as defined in R.S. 14:2(B), except those listed in, shall not be pending against the
3 defendant.
4 * * *
5 Section 2. R.S. 15:827(A)(introductory paragraph) and (9)(a), 828(D), and 1113(A)
6 are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 §827. Duties of Department of Public Safety and Corrections
8 A. In addition to other duties imposed upon the department, it shall be the
9 duty of the department to do all of the following:
10 * * *
11 (9)(a) Establish a system to collect information and data on inmates
12 participating in any program that offers the inmate compensation for services or
13 work performed, on-the-job training, or industry certification, including but not
14 limited to information and data for all of the following:
15 (i) inmates Inmates assigned to Prison Enterprises' industrial, agricultural,
16 service, or other programs;.
17 (ii) inmates Inmates who are Certified Academic Tutors and Certified
18 Vocational Tutors;.
19 (iii) inmates Inmates assigned to a certified Private Sector/Prison Industry
20 Enhancement program; Certification Program.
21 (iv) inmates Inmates participating in a work release program established and
22 administered by a sheriff;.
23 (v) inmates Inmates participating in the work release program established
24 and administered by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections; and inmates
25 participating in a program established and administered pursuant to the Reentry
26 Advisory Council and Offender Rehabilitation Workforce Development Act.
27 * * *
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1 §828. Classification and treatment programs; qualified sex offender programs;
2 reports; earned credits
3 * * *
4 D. Offenders who are otherwise eligible under pursuant to this Section and
5 who are participating in the a workforce development work release program pursuant
6 to R.S. 15:1199.9, shall be eligible to earn an additional one hundred eighty days of
7 credit toward the reduction of the projected good time parole supervision date.
8 * * *
9 §1113. Facilities providing housing or temporary residence to individuals
10 participating in work release or workforce development work release
11 programs administered by the department
12 A. No facility that provides housing or temporary residence for individuals
13 who are participating in a work release programs program as authorized by the
14 provisions of R.S. 15:1111 or 1199.9 shall be located within one thousand feet of any
15 school or child day care center property.
16 * * *
17 Section 3. R.S. 36:409(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
18 §409. Transfer of agencies to Department of Public Safety and Corrections
19 A. The following agencies are task force to develop and implement an
20 electronic media system for lien recordation and title information (R.S. 32:707.2) is
21 placed within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and shall exercise and
22 perform their its powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities as provided by law:.
23 (1) Reentry Advisory Council (R.S. 15:1199.4).
24 (2) Task force to develop and implement an electronic media system for lien
25 recordation and motor vehicle title information (R.S. 32:707.2).
26 * * *
27 Section 4. R.S. 47:287.750(A) and (B)(introductory paragraph), (2), and (4) are
28 hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
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1 §287.750. Louisiana work opportunity tax credit
2 A. There is hereby authorized a nonrefundable credit for businesses that hire
3 participants in the work release programs provided for in R.S. 15:711, and 1111,
4 1199.9, and 1199.10.
5 B. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the
6 following meanings:
7 * * *
8 (2) "Eligible business" shall mean means a business that is subject to
9 Louisiana income tax and participates in any of the work release programs provided
10 for in R.S. 15:711, or 1111, 1199.9, or 1199.10.
11 * * *
12 (4) "Eligible re-entrant" shall mean means an inmate or former inmate who
13 is eligible to participate and is actively participating in a work release program
14 provided for in R.S. 15:711, or 1111, 1199.9, or 1199.10. An eligible re-entrant shall
15 meet all of the criteria provided for in R.S. 15:1199.7.
16 * * *
17 Section 5. R.S. 13:5401(B)(1)(a) and Part XVIII of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised
18 Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 15:1199.1 through 1199.16, are hereby repealed in their
19 entirety.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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