LouisianaCorrections secretary may release some inmates for terminal care
The enrolled text would let Louisiana’s corrections secretary consider temporary release for some inmates needing terminal or highly specialized medical care.
What it does
The corrections secretary may temporarily release eligible inmates for palliative or medical care. Death-sentenced inmates are excluded, and the enrolled text has unclear wording about the expected time to death.
Argument forThis option could let some terminally ill or fully immobile inmates receive needed care outside prison, including in hospitals or nursing homes.
Argument againstBecause release is optional and the time limit is unclear, similarly ill inmates might not receive the same access to outside medical care.
More detail
The corrections secretary may authorize temporary release for palliative or medical care. The provision covers inmates diagnosed with a terminal illness, except inmates sentenced to death, and inmates whose condition totally prevents movement and requires confinement in an acute-care hospital or nursing home. Release is discretionary because the secretary may authorize it. The text includes terminal illness when death is expected within a stated number of days, but that number appears as the unclear phrase “sixty one hundred twenty days.” The text lists prolonged coma and mechanical ventilation as examples of conditions that totally prevent movement. The release may occur when the inmate meets the listed medical conditions; the supplied text does not state how long a temporary release may last.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 23Becomes Act No. 945 without the Governor's signature.Latest
- Jun 23Effective date: 08/01/2026.
- Jun 1Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- May 31Signed by the President of the Senate.
- May 29Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- May 28Called from the Calendar.
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1520). Result: pass.Upper
- May 28Read by title, passed by a vote of 26 yeas and 7 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- May 28Received from the Senate without amendments.Minor
- May 12Rules suspended.
- May 12Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.
- May 4Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- Apr 29Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- Apr 28Reported favorably.Minor
- Apr 15Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary B.Minor
- Apr 14Called from the calendar.
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#510). Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 14Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 83, nays 12. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Apr 14Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- Apr 8Read by title, returned to the calendar.
- Apr 8Notice given.
- Apr 8Scheduled for floor debate on 04/14/2026.
- Apr 7Scheduled for floor debate on 04/08/2026.
- Apr 1Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- Mar 31Reported favorably (7-0).Minor
- Mar 9Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.Minor
- Feb 27First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
- Feb 25Prefiled.Minor
- Feb 25Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.Introduced
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