{
 "citation": "14:601",
 "heading": "Louisiana Felony Class System Task Force",
 "doc_id": "1054731",
 "source_url": "https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=1054731",
 "classification": "",
 "enacted_year": "2017",
 "last_amended_year": "2017",
 "penalties": [],
 "referenced_statutes": [
  "24:513"
 ],
 "text": "RS 14:601\n\nCHAPTER 3. LOUISIANA FELONY CLASS SYSTEM TASK FORCE\n\n\u00a7601. Louisiana Felony Class System Task Force\n\nA. The legislature hereby finds that it is in the best interest of the public to have, to\nthe greatest extent possible, a clear, regular, and simple sentencing system, whereby nearly\nevery felony offense falls into a class, with sentencing to be imposed by designated class, to\nensure consistency across crimes of similar severity and greater transparency for victims,\ndefendants, and criminal justice practitioners. Such a system will henceforth be referred to\nas a felony class system.\n\nB. Accordingly, the Legislature of Louisiana hereby authorizes and directs the\ncreation of the Louisiana Felony Class System Task Force to study, evaluate, and develop\na recommendation for a felony class system to the legislature before the 2018 Regular\nSession of the Louisiana Legislature.\n\nC.(1) The membership of the task force shall be as follows:\n\n(a) Three attorneys designated by the president of Louisiana District Attorneys\nAssociation.\n\n(b) Two attorneys designated by the state public defender.\n\n(c) One attorney designated by the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.\n\n(d) One attorney designated by the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense\nLawyers.\n\n(e) Two attorneys designated by the Louisiana District Judges Association.\n\n(f) One attorney designated by the office of the governor.\n\n(g) The chair of the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice or his\ndesignee.\n\n(h) The chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary C or his designee.\n\n(i) Each attorney member of the task force shall be an attorney licensed to practice\nand who practices in this state.\n\n(2)(a) The names of the persons who are to serve on the task force shall be submitted\nto the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court on or before September 1, 2017.\n\n(b) The chief justice shall call the first meeting of the task force, which meeting shall\nbe held on or before September 15, 2017.\n\n(c) At the first meeting of the task force, its members shall elect from their\nmembership a chairman and vice chairman and such other officers as the task force may\ndeem advisable. The chief justice, or the chief justice's designee, shall preside over the task\nforce until a chairman is elected.\n\n(d) The task force shall meet a minimum of six times between September 15, 2017,\nand February 1, 2018, and may hold public hearings as part of its evaluation process. \nMeetings of the task force shall be held in the state capital.\n\nD. The task force shall prepare and submit a final report of its findings and\nrecommendations, including but not limited to any specific and complete draft legislation,\nto the governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president of the Senate, the\nchairman of the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice, the chairman of\nthe Senate Committee on Judiciary C, and the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court,\nno later than February 1, 2018. The report shall be made available to the public and the task\nforce shall be abolished upon submission of the report.\n\nE.(1) The task force may apply for, contract for, receive, and expend for purposes\nof this Chapter any appropriation or grant from the state, its political subdivisions, the federal\ngovernment, or any other public or private source.\n\n(2) The books and records of the task force shall be subject to audit by the legislative\nauditor pursuant to R.S. 24:513.\n\nF. This Chapter shall become null and of no effect on February 2, 2018.\n\nActs 2017, No. 281, \u00a71."
}