There will be no concrete action taken in this special session to address policing reforms in Louisiana, but advocates have begun laying the groundwork to tackle the issue in a potential fall special session or next year’s regular session.
One of those efforts came today in a House committee where a resolution was introduced seeking to create a study group to analyze policing policy in Louisiana. The resolution sparked a fiery debate amongst members of the committee due to it including language mentioning George Floyd and the killing of black men by white police officers. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton called it offensive…
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But resolution sponsor Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says people should instead be insulted by ongoing issues of police brutality.
The resolution passed after members agreed to remove language mentioning George Floyd. A similar resolution also passed in a Senate committee.
The House approves a 34 billion dollar budget for the fiscal year starting July 1st.
Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says it’s a four billion dollar total means of finance increase, and part of the increase is due to an influx of federal dollars from the CARES Act…
Harris says 13 months from now the state will, if current spending levels hold, be faced with a 731 million dollar deficit.
During the regular session, lawmakers passed criminal justice reform measures that advocates say will cut down on recidivism. One bill allows parolees to check in with their officers virtually. Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer says this saves parolees from taking off from work to meet their parole officer.
Another bill celebrated that passed required the Department of Corrections to issue ID cards with work certifications to those leaving prison.