HB 823: COURTS: Establishes a homeless diversion pilot program in Orleans Parish (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX See Note) - Louisiana

HB823 Original → HB823 Act 847 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was enrolled as Act 847, adding a new representative and updating the short title. The core policy change expands the pilot program's goals to include diagnosing mental health issues, increasing offender accountability, reducing prison overcrowding, and providing employment and housing assistance. The program requirements were significantly updated to mandate a comprehensive approach integrating healthcare, education, and housing, along with specific provisions for monitoring participant compliance and fostering partnerships with federal and state agencies.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a broader range of support services, specifically adding mental health diagnosis, employment/job training, and housing assistance as explicit goals and operational requirements for the homeless diversion pilot program.

SCOPE

Added four new legislative goals: diagnosing mental health problems, increasing offender accountability, reducing prison overcrowding, and providing employment and job training.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the program's essential characteristics to require a comprehensive integration of health care, education, housing, and employment services, rather than just general rehabilitative services.

Added specific requirements for careful monitoring of treatment, coordinated strategies for compliance, ongoing judicial interaction, and partnerships with public agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

DEFINITION

Renamed the section regarding program policies to focus on 'probation program' implementation guidelines rather than general policy adoption.

TECHNICAL

Corrected the page count from 5 to 4 and updated the header to reflect the enrolled status of the bill.

HB823 Enrolled → HB823 Original · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from an enrolled version to an original draft, correcting the sponsor list from two representatives to one and fixing a typo in the chapter title. The substantive policy content regarding the homeless diversion pilot program, including its goals, operational requirements, and dismissal procedures, remains unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the text describes the same pilot program in Orleans Parish.

TECHNICAL

The sponsor list was changed from 'Representatives Knox and Chassion' to 'Representative Knox'.

A typo in the short title section was corrected from 'Short title' to 'Short Title'.

Page numbering was updated from 4 pages to 5 pages to reflect the inclusion of the header and footer information.

The header information was updated to reflect the 'Original' version rather than the 'Enrolled' version.

HB823 Reengrossed → HB823 Enrolled · 5 edits · May 29, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as an Enrolled version, removing the 'Reengrossed' status and updating page counts to reflect the final text. Substantively, the bill's stated goals were expanded to include increasing personal accountability, reducing prison overcrowding, and providing housing assistance through partnerships with federal and local authorities. The pilot program requirements were strengthened to mandate a continuum of care including mental health and substance abuse services, while adding specific provisions for ongoing judicial interaction and program evaluation.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened from a general homeless diversion pilot to explicitly include partnerships with state, local, and federal housing authorities and to address mental health and substance abuse needs more comprehensively.

SCOPE

Added new legislative goals to increase offender accountability, reduce prison overcrowding, and provide employment and housing assistance.

REQUIREMENT

Expanded the pilot program requirements to include a continuum of care for alcohol, controlled substance, mental health, and suicide assessment.

Added a requirement for ongoing judicial interaction with program participants.

Added a requirement for monitoring and evaluation of program goals and effectiveness.

TECHNICAL

Removed the 'Reengrossed' header and updated page numbering to reflect the final enrolled version.

HB823 Engrossed → HB823 Reengrossed · 3 edits · May 28, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to add Representative Chassion as a co-sponsor. The text was updated to reflect a name change for a state agency from 'Louisiana Workforce Commission' to 'Louisiana Works' and clarified that partnerships can include state or federal agencies beyond just local ones. These changes ensure the bill references the correct current agency name and broadens the scope of potential partners for the program.

Scope change

The scope of potential partner organizations was broadened to explicitly include state and federal agencies, and the specific agency name was updated to reflect a recent change in the state government.

TECHNICAL

Updated the sponsor list to include Representative Chassion alongside Representative Knox.

Changed the agency name from 'Louisiana Workforce Commission' to 'Louisiana Works' to reflect the current official name.

SCOPE

Expanded the list of eligible partner organizations to explicitly include 'state or federal' agencies, in addition to local ones.

COURTS: Establishes a homeless diversion pilot program in Orleans Parish (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX See Note)

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