House Bill No. by Representative Villio proposes significant amendments to the Louisiana Revised Statutes regarding the release eligibility of incarcerated individuals. A key change is the extension of the period during which offenders must not have committed major disciplinary offenses from twelve to thirty-six consecutive months prior to their release or parole eligibility. The bill also introduces provisions that prevent habitual offenders or those convicted of sex offenses from earning sentence reductions for good behavior while incarcerated in parish prisons or under the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Additionally, it establishes a new subpart that outlines the deportation eligibility process for alien offenders, detailing conditions for parole consideration and procedures for deportation hearings.

The legislation clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the parole committee, including the removal procedures for certain offenders granted parole and the conditions for parole revocation. It eliminates the provision for earned compliance credits while on parole and mandates that offenders released for deportation must be transferred directly to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security. The bill also modifies eligibility criteria for the Post-Conviction Veterans Mentor Program by changing the timeframe for major disciplinary offenses and repeals a section related to sentence diminution eligibility. New provisions regarding good behavior and self-improvement activities will only apply to offenses committed on or after April 29, 2024. The bill will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the designated period for bills to become law without signature.

Statutes affected:
HB208 Original: 15:2(B)(3), 15:1(F), 15:4(A)(4), 15:6, 15:9, 15:24(A)(5), 15:9(F)
HB208 Engrossed: 15:2(B)(3), 15:1(F), 15:4(A)(4), 15:6, 15:9, 15:24(A)(5), 15:9(F)
HB208 Enrolled: 15:2(B)(3), 15:1(F), 15:4(A)(4), 15:6, 15:9, 15:24(A)(5), 15:9(F)