LA HB479

District clerks of court must submit quarterly sentencing data reports to the legislative auditor, including number of individuals sentenced to confinement per judge, total years of confinement per judge, and ages of those sentenced to 20+ years.

Juvenile court clerks must report sentencing data for juveniles sentenced to incarceration, applicable to sentences issued on or after August 1, 2026, notwithstanding confidentiality provisions in Children's Code Article 412.

Division of Administration must report final budget figures by October 15 annually for Corrections Services, Office of Juvenile Justice, police/sheriff supplemental payments, state public defender, the Judiciary, and District Attorneys.

Legislative auditor must provide annual five-year incarceration cost projections to House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees by December 15, incorporating sentencing data, capital budget appropriations for prisons, debt service, civil judgments, and retirement system costs.

Clerks of court, legislative auditor, and related state/local entities receive civil immunity for acts or omissions related to compliance; reporting begins in the last quarter of 2026.