Committee advances amended bill setting bail restrictions for alleged human‑trafficking offenses
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Summary
HB 161 would allow courts to impose work and no‑contact restrictions as bail conditions for defendants charged with some human‑trafficking offenses; proponents argued the measures protect victims, while defense groups warned about employment loss for people who have not been charged or convicted. The committee adopted amendments and reported the bill as amended.
Representative Mack explained HB 161 would amend Code of Criminal Procedure 320 to permit courts to require work restrictions and no‑contact orders as part of bail for defendants alleged to have committed certain human‑trafficking offenses. He said the measure focuses on victim protection.
Proponents including Jill Dennis (Association of Supervised Ankle Monitoring Providers) suggested strengthening the bill to allow GPS monitoring and victim‑choice protections already used in some first‑degree offenses; she said victim protection should start before release. Supporters argued the tools are discretionary and may include victim notification and monitoring options.
Opponents — notably Sarah Whittington (ACLU of Louisiana) and Kelly Carmina (LACDL) — warned the bill could strip employment opportunities from people who are alleged but not yet charged or convicted, raising due‑process and Fourth Amendment concerns and risking collateral consequences for innocent people. Committee members and the sponsor acknowledged those concerns and the sponsor agreed to work with stakeholders to refine language before floor consideration.
Amendment set 28‑99 was adopted to clarify technical points and to adjust which offenses and court considerations are applied; the committee reported HB 161 as amended.
