Committee clears several local bills adjusting sheriff eligibility and benefits in three parishes

The Louisiana Senate Judiciary B Committee reported several local bills favorably on Tuesday that would change personnel eligibility or benefits for sheriff’s offices in Franklin, Jefferson Davis and East Carroll parishes.

House Bill 361 (Rep. Reiser) would allow Franklin Parish to consider employees with 50% of their time served under another sheriff’s office eligible for the local sheriff’s pension plan at the sheriff’s discretion, rather than requiring 100% of service in the parish. The sponsor said the change aims to ease recruitment in rural parishes where deputies work in multiple parishes.

House Bill 66 (Rep. Romero) would reduce the years of service required for benefits in Jefferson Davis Parish from 15 years to 12 years so deputies who serve 12 years could retain benefits after reaching 30 years of qualifying service.

House Bill 189 (Rep. Travis Johnson) would allow the East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Department to pay a portion of premium costs for group hospital, surgical, medical and vision insurance for deputies and employees.

Committee members accepted the bills without amendments. Supporters from the Louisiana Sheriffs Association filed cards in support of multiple bills; Kevin Cobb confirmed the association’s involvement and meetings with sheriffs and POST on related staffing and benefit matters. Bruce Riley offered public comment during the East Carroll measure expressing interest in a broader review of the corrections and detention industry’s economic impact but did not block committee action.

Each bill was moved and reported favorably by voice vote with no objections recorded in committee. The measures now advance to the Senate calendar.