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Committee hears emotional testimony on repeat-offender sentencing bill, author voluntarily defers HB 11
Summary
Family members of a slain Lafayette officer and multiple law-enforcement groups urged passage of House Bill 11 to impose mandatory minimums for repeat violent offenders; the bill was voluntarily deferred by the author at the committee's request and was tabled by an 11–1 vote.
Representative Chad Boyer brought House Bill 11 to the Criminal Justice Committee on May 8, presenting a sentencing proposal that would set mandatory minimums for repeat violent felony convictions. The measure — described by supporters as intended to protect communities from repeat violent offenders — drew emotional testimony from the widow of Senior Corporal Seegis Jolivet and broad law-enforcement backing before the author voluntarily deferred the bill for revision.
"This bill, House Bill 11, is about protecting our communities from a repeat violent offenders," Representative Chad Boyer said when introducing the bill. He described minimums of 50% of a term for a third conviction and 75% for a fourth or more; family members of Senior Corporal Seegis Jolivet and multiple law-enforcement witnesses testified in support.
Alexis Jolivet, wife of Senior Corporal Seegis Jolivet, addressed the committee in an emotional statement describing the family’s loss after her husband’s death on July 25, 2024. "The only thing he didn't teach us was how to live without him," she said. She told lawmakers she believes the person responsible for her husband's death had been repeatedly released early from prior prison sentences and urged stricter consequences for violent repeat offenders.
The bill also drew law-enforcement testimony. Detective Charles Broussard, president of the Police Association of Lafayette, said the offender’s record showed repeated leniency: "The man responsible...should have never been walking free that day. His record speaks for itself." Lafayette Police Chief Paul Truard, who said he was on duty when Senior Corporal Jolivet was killed, told the committee that, had the law been in effect, the incident would not have happened: "Had this law been into effect, this incident would have never happened."
After the testimony, Representative Boyer told the committee he would voluntarily defer HB 11 to work on legal issues and to attach elements to another bill (HB 260) that the author planned to amend on the House floor. He said the intent was to refine the measure and avoid legal problems later in the process.
Chair Bakula put the substitute motion to voluntarily defer the bill to the committee. Representative Walters objected to deferral, saying it was unfair to the family to hear testimony and then defer without passing the bill. The committee then voted on the author's request to voluntarily defer; the roll call recorded 11 yeas and 1 nay. The clerk announced, "Let HB 11 be voluntarily deferred." The committee made no substantive changes to law in this hearing; the bill will be reworked by the author before further consideration.
The hearing combined personal testimony from victims' family members and a wide roster of endorsements from police chiefs and associations across the state. Despite the emotion and backing, Representative Boyer chose to pause the bill to avoid later legal complications and to consolidate his proposals on a related vehicle.
