PARDON/PAROLE: Provides relative to the confidentiality of records from certain hearings of the Board of Pardons and committee on parole (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

Added specific definitions for 'documented hearing' to include live-streams, recordings, and transcripts, ensuring comprehensive coverage of digital and physical records.

Introduced a rigorous three-step legal process requiring a court order, an in-camera inspection, and clear and convincing evidence before any confidential hearing record can be released.

Mandated that if a requestor is not represented by an attorney, they are denied a copy of the hearing and may only view it in person under strict supervision.

Refined the list of individuals authorized to request hearing records, maintaining the defendant, their lawyer, the victim, and legal guardians as the only eligible parties.

Established a new crime for unlawfully posting or distributing confidential hearing records and added a contempt of court penalty for violating protective orders.

Removed redundant references to repealed or superseded statutes (R.S. 15:572.4, 573, 574.2, 574.4.1) to eliminate confusion and simplify the legal text.

Updated the definition of electronic communications to include local bulletin boards, chat rooms, email, and online messaging services, ensuring victims receive timely digital notifications.

Explicitly added the legal guardian of the victim to the list of individuals authorized to request and obtain copies of parole hearing recordings.

Reorganized the statute to clearly state that victims and their families are allowed to testify directly or in rebuttal to evidence presented by the offender during parole hearings.

Changed the bill status from 'Reengrossed' to 'Enrolled' and updated the list of sponsoring legislators to include Senators Pressly and Seabaugh.

Updated the document header title from 'ENGROSSED' to 'REENGROSSED' to indicate the bill has been amended and re-submitted.