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Marshals and constables say amendments to HB 1038 made progress but concerns remain; committee reports bill
Summary
Representative Fontenot presented HB 1038 with amendment set 3,824 addressing certification language, jurisdiction and pay consequences for marshals; law-enforcement groups said amendments improved the bill but remain opposed to parts that could affect authority and independence; the committee reported the bill as amended after the parties agreed to continue talks.
Representative Fontenot presented House Bill 1038 and offered amendment set 3,824, which the committee adopted. Supporters, including Guy Cormier of the Louisiana Police Chiefs Association, described progress in negotiations and a commitment to continue refining the measure so it could be acceptable to marshals and other stakeholders.
Leaders of the marshals' associations—identified in committee testimony as Ernest Martin and Randall Johnson—said they remained opposed to the bill in its present form but were encouraged by the author's willingness to meet and make changes. Ernest Martin, who described himself as a city marshal and association leader, said the groups were working in good faith to preserve the authority and independence of elected city marshals. "We remain opposed to this bill in its present form," Martin said, while noting that continued meetings had produced substantial progress.
Randall Johnson, representing the Louisiana City Marshals and Constables Association, said the newly adopted amendments had not yet been fully digested by the membership, but he expected continued negotiation and possible floor-level resolution.
The committee voted to report HB 1038 as amended by unanimous consent, with senators thanking all parties for working toward a compromise.
Next steps: HB 1038 was reported out of committee with an agreement that the author and affected associations would continue to meet to refine remaining concerns prior to floor action.
