Senate Bill No. 119, introduced by Senator Cloud, aims to amend the definition of "employment" within Louisiana's unemployment insurance laws. The bill specifically prohibits the classification of certain services performed by individuals as employment if those individuals have been incarcerated for specific aggravated offenses or sex offenses and are employed within one year of their release. The new legal language defines these exclusions in detail, stating that services performed by individuals within five calendar years of their release from incarceration for the specified offenses will not be classified as employment.

The bill retains existing definitions of employment while adding this new provision, which is set to take effect on January 1, 2026. If the bill is vetoed by the governor but later approved by the legislature, it will become effective the day following that approval or on January 1, 2026, whichever is later. This legislative change is intended to clarify the classification of employment for individuals with certain criminal backgrounds, potentially impacting their eligibility for unemployment benefits.