Accomplishments

Accomplishments

"We are at a critical point in history, and I believe that it’s time to stop talking and immediately do what’s necessary for people to thrive. We must take action on the most significant issues impacting Louisianans like increasing public safety, investing in streets and drainage, expanding access to quality education, building an economy where companies are excited to invest in jobs for our community, protecting reproductive rights, advocating for vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth, and so much more.”

-Senator Royce Duplessis

As a Representative, Royce Duplessis passed over 70 legislative instruments since taking office in 2018. Here is a partial list of his accomplishments.

PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

  • Debt-Free Justice Act

    Eliminated regressive and burdensome fees, costs, and taxes in the juvenile justice system. These fees are administrative surcharges that have nothing to do with actual criminal justice system expenses, and they have hurt those who can least afford the debt.

  • Juvenile Solitary Confinement Audit

    Requested the legislative auditor to conduct an audit on the use of all forms of solitary confinement of juveniles in facilities housing juveniles. Solitary confinement of juveniles is inhumane, and the first step to ending it is learning how and where it’s done in Louisiana.


  • Limiting the Release of Mugshots

    Limited the use of an individual’s booking photograph on a website if they were acquitted of a criminal charge. 

  • Letters of Incarceration

    Any person who was or is confined in any prison, jail, work release facility, or correctional institution or who was or is under the supervision of the division of probation and parole is entitled to receive, upon request, a letter of incarceration that provides documentation, verification, or proof of the person's confinement in the prison, jail, work release facility, or correctional institution or supervision while on probation and parole.

  • Study of Compassionate Release

    Requested that a commission be convened to study the efficacy of the current eligibility requirements and processes for compassionate release, medical parole, and medical treatment furlough. This will help pave the way for elderly and terminally ill offenders, who pose no threat to society, to be allowed to spend their final days on earth outside of a penitentiary.

  • Non-unanimous Juries

    Played a pivotal role in abolishing non-unanimous juries by helping garner bi-partisan support for the bill in the state legislature and then working will stakeholders to have non-unanimous juries outlawed through a Constitutional Amendment.

HEALTH

  • Employment Opportunities for Returning Residents

    Passed legislation to allow residents convicted of mingling harmful substances, theft, or distribution or possession with the intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances to be hired as a peer support specialist by a licensed behavioral health services provider. 


  • Expanded Access to Mental Health Services

    • Expanded the definition of "gravely disabled" to include a person who is unable to protect themself from serious physical harm or significant psychiatric deterioration. 
    • Removed content requirements for a Physician's Report to Court or an affidavit from a medical health professional when the Physician's Report to Court or affidavit accompanies a petition from present law.

  • Universal Perinatal Mood Disorder Screening

    • Passed legislation that requires that a healthcare provider who is providing pediatric care to an infant to screen the caregiver for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders or related mental health disorders if they believe in the exercise of their professional judgment that the screening would be in the best interest of the patient. 
    • The legislation also requires that the Louisiana Department of Health identify and develop standards for providers who specialize in pregnancy-related and postpartum depression or related mental health disorders and substance use disorders.

  • Civil Involuntary Outpatient Treatment

    Streamlined and improved the legal process for individuals with serious mental illness who need access to assisted outpatient treatment program services.

  • Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Task Force

    Established the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Task Force for the purposes of advancing education and treatment and improving services relating to maternal mental health.

ECONOMY

  • BioDistrict New Orleans

    • Changed the biodistrict boundaries and prohibited the district or any subdistrict from acquiring property by expropriation or from exercising any power of an eminent domain. 
    • This required the approval of the city of New Orleans by ordinance with respect to boundary changes and the creation of subdistricts. 

  • Earned Income Tax Credit

    Extended the state’s 10% Earned Income Tax Credit another five years from its current sunset, ensuring families will have access to the enhanced credit until 2030. 

  • Work Opportunity Tax Credit

    Worked to create the Louisiana Work Opportunity Tax credit, which incentivizes businesses to hire re-entrants participating in work release programs. Stable jobs for formerly incarcerated people is one of the best ways we can reduce recidivism and combat crime.

YOUTH & EDUCATION

  • Teaching Mental Health

    Required K-12 schools to integrate preventive mental health measures; the relationship between mental health and physical health; brain health, emotional health, identifying trauma and stress, and the impact of trauma and stress on mental health and physical health; and resources and services available to assist people with mental health issues, into Health class curriculum.

  • Family Fund Study

    Requested a study regarding the potential establishment of a program to provide children born to low- to moderate-income parents with a trust that, at maturity, can be used for postsecondary education, the purchase of a home, or the formation of a business.

CULTURE

  • Louis Armstrong Park Authority and Historic Jazz District

    Ensured the state-level protection of the Louis Armstrong Park Authority and Historic Jazz District. 

HOUSING

  • Emergency Preparedness

    Requested that the Louisiana Housing Corporation consider emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency characteristics when implementing design criteria for housing developments.

  • Equitable Housing Tax Credits

    Requested the Louisiana Housing Corporation to study the distribution of low-income housing tax credit resources and identify barriers to equitable distribution of these housing resources.

  • Protecting Renters During COVID-19

    • Helped empower renters who, through no fault of their own, may have been evicted during the pandemic. 
    • Required landlords to disclose their screening criteria and allow renters to provide additional background information to landlords for any evictions that occurred during COVID or other state declared emergencies.
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