Senate Bill No. 227, introduced by Senator Cloud, aims to amend the definition of "employment" within Louisiana's unemployment insurance laws. The bill specifically adds a new provision stating that services performed by an individual will not be classified as employment if the individual is hired within five calendar years after being released from incarceration, provided that the individual was not incarcerated for certain specified crimes. This change is intended to encourage the hiring of individuals with prior incarceration records by clarifying their employment status under unemployment insurance regulations.

The effective date for this new provision is set for January 1, 2026. The bill retains existing definitions of employment while expanding them to include this new classification, thereby addressing the employment landscape for individuals transitioning back into the workforce after incarceration.