This bill proposes significant amendments to various sections of Louisiana law, primarily focusing on the terminology used in legal contexts by replacing references to "gender" with "sex." This change aims to establish a clear distinction between the two terms, with "sex" defined as an individual's biological sex observed at birth. The bill modifies multiple legal codes, including the Civil Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, to ensure that the language used in legal documents is consistent and unambiguous. Additionally, it mandates that various boards, commissions, and councils ensure representation by sex to promote diversity, and it emphasizes the importance of collecting demographic data, such as sex, in contexts like educational and criminal justice reporting.

Furthermore, the bill addresses the expungement of criminal records, introducing new requirements for expungement applications and clarifying the conditions under which expungement can be granted. It allows individuals convicted of a first offense for possession of marijuana to petition for expungement without a contradictory hearing if there are no objections from law enforcement. The bill also modifies the Children's Code to standardize the terminology regarding sex in legal proceedings and emphasizes protective measures for sexually exploited children. Overall, the legislation seeks to modernize language, enhance representation, and streamline the expungement process while ensuring clarity and inclusivity in Louisiana's legal framework.

Statutes affected:
HB578 Original: 3:1493(E), 3:2074(E), 4:2(A)(2), 4:193(B), 9:2720(D), 13:1856(A)(1), 13:1857(A)(8), 14:2(A), 15:3(A)(2), 15:832(A), 15:905(F)(13), 15:933(D)(4), 15:934(B)(4), 15:1110(D)(3), 15:2(B)(4), 15:9(D)(1), 17:5(B)(2), 17:13(G)(2), 17:3(B)(2), 17:416(M), 17:21(N)(3), 17:7(C), 17:1871(A)(3), 17:7(B)(2), 17:3351(B)(2), 17:12(5), 17:3911(B)(1), 17:3991(A)(1), 17:5067(B)(7), 22:1204(A)(10), 22:1504, 22:1545(I)(1), 22:2(H), 22:2161(B), 22:2187(D)(4), 22:2503(9), 23:2043(B)(1), 27:46(B), 32:10(A)(2), 33:302(A)(2), 33:882(A)(2), 33:363(D), 33:3(B)(2), 33:4071(A)(6), 33:301(G)(2), 36:108(B)(5), 37:832(A)(2), 37:914(B)(3), 37:962(C), 37:1042(B)(1), 37:1104(A), 37:1172(A), 37:2102(A)(2), 37:2353(A)(2), 37:2403(H), 37:2407(D), 37:2455(B)(1), 37:2704(A), 37:3061(A)(2), 37:3084(B)(2), 37:3201(B)(2), 37:2(C), 37:3389(C), 37:3444(A), 37:3463(B)(1), 37:3554(A)(2), 37:3703(B)(3), 40:101(D)(1), 40:151(D)(1), 40:2403(H)(1), 42:1(A), 42:1132(B)(1), 46:3(D)(1), 46:5(1), 46:37(B)(10), 46:1095(A), 46:8(A), 47:14(E)(2), 47:1702(6), 48:2134(C), 49:1112(B)(1), 51:942(A), 56:108(A), 56:1705(C)
HB578 Engrossed: 3:1493(E), 3:2074(E), 4:2(A)(2), 4:193(B), 9:2720(D), 13:1856(A)(1), 13:1857(A)(8), 14:2(A), 15:3(A)(2), 15:832(A), 15:905(F)(13), 15:933(D)(4), 15:934(B)(4), 15:1110(D)(3), 15:2(B)(4), 15:9(D)(1), 17:5(B)(2), 17:13(G)(2), 17:3(B)(2), 17:416(M), 17:21(N)(3), 17:7(C), 17:1871(A)(3), 17:7(B)(2), 17:3351(B)(2), 17:12(5), 17:3911(B)(1), 17:3991(A)(1), 17:5067(B)(7), 22:1204(A)(10), 22:1504, 22:1545(I)(1), 22:2(H), 22:2161(B), 22:2187(D)(4), 22:2503(9), 23:2043(B)(1), 27:46(B), 32:10(A)(2), 33:302(A)(2), 33:882(A)(2), 33:363(D), 33:3(B)(2), 33:4071(A)(6), 33:301(G)(2), 36:108(B)(5), 37:832(A)(2), 37:914(B)(3), 37:962(C), 37:1042(B)(1), 37:1104(A), 37:1172(A), 37:2102(A)(2), 37:2353(A)(2), 37:2403(H), 37:2407(D), 37:2455(B)(1), 37:2704(A), 37:3061(A)(2), 37:3084(B)(2), 37:3201(B)(2), 37:2(C), 37:3389(C), 37:3444(A), 37:3463(B)(1), 37:3554(A)(2), 37:3703(B)(3), 40:101(D)(1), 40:151(D)(1), 40:2403(H)(1), 42:1(A), 42:1132(B)(1), 46:3(D)(1), 46:5(1), 46:37(B)(10), 46:1095(A), 46:8(A), 47:14(E)(2), 47:1702(6), 48:2134(C), 49:1112(B)(1), 51:942(A), 56:108(A), 56:1705(C)
HB578 Reengrossed: 3:1493(E), 3:2074(E), 4:2(A)(2), 4:193(B), 9:2720(D), 13:1856(A)(1), 13:1857(A)(8), 14:2(A), 15:3(A)(2), 15:832(A), 15:905(F)(13), 15:933(D)(4), 15:934(B)(4), 15:1110(D)(3), 15:2(B)(4), 15:9(D)(1), 17:5(B)(2), 17:13(G)(2), 17:3(B)(2), 17:416(M), 17:21(N)(3), 17:7(C), 17:1871(A)(3), 17:7(B)(2), 17:3351(B)(2), 17:12(5), 17:3911(B)(1), 17:3991(A)(1), 17:5067(B)(7), 22:1204(A)(10), 22:1504, 22:1545(I)(1), 22:2(H), 22:2161(B), 22:2187(D)(4), 22:2503(9), 23:2043(B)(1), 27:46(B), 32:10(A)(2), 33:302(A)(2), 33:882(A)(2), 33:363(D), 33:3(B)(2), 33:4071(A)(6), 33:301(G)(2), 36:108(B)(5), 37:832(A)(2), 37:914(B)(3), 37:962(C), 37:1042(B)(1), 37:1104(A), 37:1172(A), 37:2102(A)(2), 37:2353(A)(2), 37:2403(H), 37:2407(D), 37:2455(B)(1), 37:2704(A), 37:3061(A)(2), 37:3084(B)(2), 37:3201(B)(2), 37:2(C), 37:3389(C), 37:3444(A), 37:3463(B)(1), 37:3554(A)(2), 37:3703(B)(3), 40:101(D)(1), 40:151(D)(1), 40:2403(H)(1), 42:1(A), 42:1132(B)(1), 46:3(D)(1), 46:5(1), 46:37(B)(10), 46:1095(A), 46:8(A), 47:14(E)(2), 47:1702(6), 48:2134(C), 49:1112(B)(1), 51:942(A), 51:1762(A)(8), 56:108(A), 56:1705(C)
HB578 Enrolled: 3:1493(E), 3:2074(E), 4:2(A)(2), 4:193(B), 9:2720(D), 13:1856(1), 13:1857(A)(8), 14:2(A), 15:3(A)(2), 15:832(A), 15:905(F)(13), 15:933(D)(4), 15:934(B)(4), 15:1110(D)(3), 15:2(B)(4), 15:9(D)(1), 17:5(B)(2), 17:13(G)(2), 17:3(B)(2), 17:416(M), 17:21(N)(3), 17:7(C), 17:1871(A)(3), 17:7(B)(2), 17:3351(B)(2), 17:12(5), 17:3911(B)(1), 17:3991(A)(1), 17:5067(B)(7), 22:1204(A)(10), 22:1504, 22:1545(I)(1), 22:2(H), 22:2161(B), 22:2187(D)(4), 22:2503(9), 23:2043(B)(1), 27:46(B), 32:10(A)(2), 33:302(A)(2), 33:882(A)(2), 33:363(D), 33:3(B)(2), 33:4071(A)(6), 33:301(G)(2), 36:108(B)(5), 37:832(A)(2), 37:914(B)(3), 37:962(C), 37:1042(B)(1), 37:1104(A), 37:1172(A), 37:2102(A)(2), 37:2353(A)(2), 37:2403(H), 37:2407(D), 37:2455(B)(1), 37:2704(A), 37:3061(A)(2), 37:3084(B)(2), 37:3201(B)(2), 37:2(C), 37:3389(C), 37:3444(A), 37:3463(B)(1), 37:3554(A)(2), 37:3703(B)(3), 40:101(D)(1), 40:151(D)(1), 40:2403(H)(1), 42:1(A), 42:1132(B)(1), 46:3(D)(1), 46:5(1), 46:37(B)(10), 46:1095(A), 46:8(A), 47:14(E)(2), 47:1702(6), 48:2134(C), 49:1112(B)(1), 51:942(A), 51:1762(A)(8), 56:108(A), 56:1705(C)
HB578 Act 814: 3:1493(E), 3:2074(E), 4:2(A)(2), 4:193(B), 9:2720(D), 13:1856(1), 13:1857(A)(8), 14:2(A), 15:3(A)(2), 15:832(A), 15:905(F)(13), 15:933(D)(4), 15:934(B)(4), 15:1110(D)(3), 15:2(B)(4), 15:9(D)(1), 17:5(B)(2), 17:13(G)(2), 17:3(B)(2), 17:416(M), 17:21(N)(3), 17:7(C), 17:1871(A)(3), 17:7(B)(2), 17:3351(B)(2), 17:12(5), 17:3911(B)(1), 17:3991(A)(1), 17:5067(B)(7), 22:1204(A)(10), 22:1504, 22:1545(I)(1), 22:2(H), 22:2161(B), 22:2187(D)(4), 22:2503(9), 23:2043(B)(1), 27:46(B), 32:10(A)(2), 33:302(A)(2), 33:882(A)(2), 33:363(D), 33:3(B)(2), 33:4071(A)(6), 33:301(G)(2), 36:108(B)(5), 37:832(A)(2), 37:914(B)(3), 37:962(C), 37:1042(B)(1), 37:1104(A), 37:1172(A), 37:2102(A)(2), 37:2353(A)(2), 37:2403(H), 37:2407(D), 37:2455(B)(1), 37:2704(A), 37:3061(A)(2), 37:3084(B)(2), 37:3201(B)(2), 37:2(C), 37:3389(C), 37:3444(A), 37:3463(B)(1), 37:3554(A)(2), 37:3703(B)(3), 40:101(D)(1), 40:151(D)(1), 40:2403(H)(1), 42:1(A), 42:1132(B)(1), 46:3(D)(1), 46:5(1), 46:37(B)(10), 46:1095(A), 46:8(A), 47:14(E)(2), 47:1702(6), 48:2134(C), 49:1112(B)(1), 51:942(A), 51:1762(A)(8), 56:108(A), 56:1705(C)