HB 76

ENROLLED
 2026 Regular Session
  ACT No. 82
 HOUSE BILL NO. 76
 BY REPRESENTATIVE MANDIE LANDRY
1AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 15:715(C) and to enact R.S. 15:549(J) and 715(D), relative to
3notification of releases from parish prisons or jails or state correctional facilities; to
4provide for notification of improperly released inmates; to provide for definitions;
5and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7Section 1. R.S. 15:715(C) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 15:549(J) and
8 715(D) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
9§549. Notification of release or escape of inmate
10*       *  *
11J.(1) The supervisor, or the person acting on behalf of the supervisor who is
12physically present at and in charge of the correctional facility at the time it is
13determined that an inmate has been improperly released from that facility, shall
14immediately, or as soon as practicable, notify or take necessary steps to ensure that
15notification of the improper release is provided to all of the following:
16(a) The appropriate law enforcement agency.
17(b) The victim of the crime for which the inmate was imprisoned.
18(c) The district attorney.
19(d) Local media outlets within the parish, at the discretion of the supervisor
20or the person acting on behalf of the supervisor.
21(2) The provisions of this Subsection apply to the improper release of an
22inmate who has been detained or incarcerated on the basis of an arrest or conviction
23for a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) that is a felony.
  Page 1 of 3
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
 HB NO. 76  ENROLLED
1(3) As used in this Subsection, the following terms have the following
2meanings:
3(a) "Improper release" means the discharge of an inmate from a correctional
4facility through circumstances that include but are not limited to administrative or
5clerical error or mistake of staff.
6(b) "Law enforcement agency" means the Department of Public Safety and
7Corrections, office of public safety services and office of state police, and all police
8departments in the parish.
9(c) "Local media outlet" means a local news service, including but not
10limited to a print, broadcast, or online platform.
11(d) "Supervisor" means the warden, facility administrator, or designated
12official at a correctional facility.
13§715. Reporting of escapes or improper releases from parish prison facilities and or
14jails
15*       *  *
16C.(1) The sheriff, the highest ranking employee of the sheriff's office, or the
17person acting on behalf of the sheriff who is physically present at and in charge of
18the parish prison or jail at the time it is determined that an inmate has been
19improperly released from that facility, shall immediately, or as soon as practicable,
20notify or take necessary steps to ensure that notification of the improper release is
21provided to all of the following:
22(a) The appropriate law enforcement agency.
23(b) The victim of the crime for which the inmate was imprisoned.
24(c) The district attorney.
25(d) Local media outlets within the parish, at the discretion of the sheriff,
26highest ranking employee of the sheriff's office, or the person acting on behalf of the
27sheriff.
28(2) The provisions of this Subsection apply to the improper release of an
29inmate who has been detained or incarcerated on the basis of an arrest or conviction
30for a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) that is a felony.
  Page 2 of 3
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
 HB NO. 76  ENROLLED
1C. D. As used in this Section, the following terms have the following
2meanings:
3(1) "Improper release" means the discharge of an inmate from a parish prison
4or jail through circumstances that include but are not limited to administrative or
5clerical error or mistake of staff.
6(1) (2) "Law enforcement agency" means the Department of Public Safety
7and Corrections, office of public safety services and office of state police, and all
8police departments in the parish.
9(2) (3) "Local media outlet" means a local news service, including but not
10limited to a print, broadcast, or online platform.
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
  GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
 APPROVED:
  Page 3 of 3
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.