SHERIFFS: Provides relative to state inmates housed in a parish jail or institution and establishes criteria for additional per diem funding. (gov sig)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Heather Cloud

SB 373 links higher parish jail per diems to compliance with jail standards and launches a DPSC pilot for inmate workforce training in skilled trades by 2027.

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary B.

Summary of SB 373 (2026, Louisiana)

Purpose and intent

SB 373 updates the framework for housing state inmates in parish jails or institutions and creates new initiatives to improve funding criteria and inmate rehabilitation. The bill preserves current authority for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPSC) to place inmates in parish facilities, but adds rules-based conditions for future per diem increases and establishes a pilot program focused on workforce and vocational training.

Key provisions and changes

Per diem funding for parish jails (R.S. 15:824(B)(1)(a))

The department may continue paying per diem rates to parishes for inmates housed in parish jails or institutions, as currently authorized.
Starting with “subsequent increases” to the daily per diem after January 1, 2026, funding eligibility becomes contingent on:
Compliance with basic jail guidelines approved by the department,
Compliance with all applicable safety and sanitation laws and regulations,
Adherence to criteria established by the department by rule.
The department must adopt rules (in collaboration with the sheriff or governing authority operating the parish jail) to implement these provisions. Rules will set eligibility criteria, benchmarks, and reporting requirements, including:
Mitigating state liability risks (e.g., addressing facility upgrades and repairs),
Ensuring safe, sanitary, and code-compliant conditions,
Providing and upgrading technology infrastructure, if applicable.

Transitional Workforce and Vocational Training Pilot Program (new §15:828.5)

Establishes a pilot within the DPSC for state inmates who are in the custody of a sheriff or parish jail operator.
Timeline: Implement the pilot no later than January 1, 2027.
Program aims to provide workforce and vocational training in high-demand skilled trades to address workforce gaps and bolster reentry outcomes.
The secretary of the DPSC will select the location and the number of inmates participating.
Funding: Implementation is contingent on available appropriations.
Evaluation: A report on the pilot’s overall success must be submitted by January 1, 2029 to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, the Senate Judiciary B Committee, and the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, with a recommendation to continue, expand, or terminate the program.
Implementation: The department must adopt rules in consultation with the sheriff or parish jail operator, pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

Affected parties

Inmates housed in parish jails or parish-operated facilities under the department’s jurisdiction.

Parish sheriffs and parish governing authorities operating parish jails.

Louisiana’s Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

Legislative committees overseeing criminal justice and budgeting for program evaluation.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Effective date: Upon governor’s signature or legislative action lapse, with related provisions guiding ongoing implementation.

Rules and regulations: To be adopted by the DPSC in consultation with sheriffs/parish authorities.

Pilot program: Initiates by January 1, 2027; evaluation due by January 1, 2029.

Per diem funding changes: Increases after January 1, 2026 are contingent on compliance with established guidelines and rules.