LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: HB 479 HLS 21RS 1003
Bill Text Version: ENGROSSED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: May 13, 2021 5:25 PM Author: VILLIO
Dept./Agy.: Corrections
Subject: Diminution of sentence and parole eligibility Analyst: Rebecca Robinson
CRIMINAL/SENTENCING EG SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note Page 1 of 2
Provides with respect to diminution of sentence and parole eligibility
Proposed law provides that every prisoner in a parish prison convicted of an offense and sentenced to imprisonment without
hard labor, including those convicted of a crime of violence, may earn a diminution of sentence known as “good time” at the
rate of 30 days for every 30 days in actual custody. Proposed law provides that every offender in the custody of the
Department of Public Safety & Corrections (DPS&C) who has been convicted of a felony and sentenced to imprisonment for a
stated number of years or months, may earn “good time” at the rate of 3 days for every 17 days in actual custody.
Proposed law allows those offenders convicted of a crime of violence under R.S. 14:2(B), those convicted of a sex offense
under R.S. 15:541, and those under the habitual offender law under R.S. 15:529.1 to earn “good time” at the new rate.
Proposed law shall apply only to offenders who commit an offense on or after August 1, 2021, except for those offenders
serving a life sentence for conviction of 1st degree murder who were under the age of 18 at the time of the commission of
the offense.
EXPENDITURES 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total
REVENUES 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total
EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION
There will be an indeterminable impact to the SGF expenditures to the Department of Public Safety & Corrections -
Corrections Services (DPS&C) as a result of the proposed law.
Present law provides for felony offenders to earn “good time” at the rate of 13 days for every 7 days in actual custody;
thereby requiring offenders to serve 35% of their imposed sentence before being eligible for release. Proposed law provides
for felony offenders to earn “good time” at the rate of 3 days for every 17 days in actual custody served on an imposed
sentence; thereby requiring offenders to serve 85% of their imposed sentence before being released. Proposed law will
result in offenders serving more time in the custody of DPS&C than they would under present law; thereby increasing SGF
expenditures.
Present law provides for offenders convicted of a first offense crime of violence to earn “good time” at the rate of 1 day for
every 3 days in actual custody; thereby requiring these offenders to serve 75% of their imposed sentence before being
eligible for release. Proposed law provides for offenders convicted of a 1st offense crime of violence to earn “good time” at
the new rate of 3 days for every 17 days in actual custody, or 85% of the sentence imposed. [CONTINUED ON PAGE 2]
REVENUE EXPLANATION
There will be an indeterminable decrease in self-generated revenue to the Department of Public Safety & Corrections -
Probation & Parole (P&P) as a result of the proposed measure. The proposed law provides that offenders whose offense is
committed on or after August 1, 2021 shall not be eligible for parole under Title 15 (Criminal Procedure), Chapter 5
(Reprieve, Pardon, and Parole), Part II (Parole); thereby removing the requirement of parolees to report to the Division of
Parole and Probation upon release. Under proposed law, released offenders will not be required to report monthly, to pay
supervision fees, or comply with other parole conditions as stipulated in Part II.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
Alan M. Boxberger
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee 6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Staff Director
 LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: HB 479 HLS 21RS 1003
Bill Text Version: ENGROSSED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: May 13, 2021 5:25 PM Author: VILLIO
Dept./Agy.: Corrections
Subject: Diminution of sentence and parole eligibility Analyst: Rebecca Robinson
CONTINUED EXPLANATION from page one: Page 2 of 2
[CONTINUED EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION FROM PAGE 1]
Therefore, under proposed law those offenders convicted of a 1st offense crime of violence will remain in the custody of
DPS&C longer than they would under present law; thereby increasing SGF expenditures.
Proposed law expands the number of offenders eligible to earn “good time” by including those convicted of a crime of
violence, a sex offense, or under the habitual offender law. The expansion of offenders eligible to earn “good time” will
result in certain offenders serving less time than they would under present law; thereby resulting in decreasing SGF
expenditures.
Any offender sentenced to the custody of DPS&C increases SGF expenditures of $26.39 per day per offender in adult local
housing and $67.36 per day per offender in a state facility. Any offender convicted of these crimes would cost DPS&C
$9,632 annually ($26.39 per day per offender x 365 days) per offender in adult local housing and $24,586 annually ($67.36
per day per offender x 365 days) per offender in a state facility.
There will be a decrease in SGF expenditures to DPS&C as a result of offenders no longer being required to report to the
Division of Probation and Parole (P&P) upon their release from custody. Probation & Parole will likely need fewer
probation/parole officers as a result of a reduction in the number of parolees supervised. For illustrative purposes, P&P
currently has 2,683 parole cases (or 5% of total caseload) and 19,932 “good time” parole cases (or 41% of total caseload).
The net fiscal impact of the proposed law is indeterminable as it is unknown the amount of offenders that will be
sentenced to imprisonment for a term of years on or after August 1, 2021. It is unknown the number of offenders who may
serve a longer term of imprisonment, a lesser term of imprisonment, or no longer be required to report to P&P under the
proposed law.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
Alan M. Boxberger
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee 6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Staff Director


Statutes affected:
HB479 Original: 15:3(A)(1), 15:3(C)
HB479 Engrossed: 15:3(A)(1), 15:3(C)