BATON ROUGE — Senators on Tuesday sent three of the larger criminal justice reform measures to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ desk for his signature.

With a close vote, senators voted 20-13 to concur with House amendments to Senate Bill 139, by Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Metairie. The legislation would lower the probation periods for nonviolent offenders. It also would provide a medical treatment furlough program for certain offenders who are considered limited mobility or terminally ill who aren’t on death row and ineligible for medical parole.

Under the bill, roughly 160 people who were convicted of second-degree murder between 1973 and 1979 would be eligible for parole after serving 40 years and getting a unanimous vote of the parole board.

Sens. Ronnie Johns, R-Sulphur, Dan “Blade” Morrish, R-Jennings, and John Smith, R-Leesville, voted to concur with the amendments. Sen. Eric LaFleur, D-Ville Platte, was marked as absent.

Senators voted 26-9 to concur with House amendments to S.B. 220, by Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego. The measure would change penalties for various crimes, ranging from simple burglary to drug possession. It also would create a Louisiana Felony Class System Task Force to come up with a felony class system and present it to the Legislature next year.

Senators voted 23-11 to concur with House amendments to S.B. 221, by Alario. It would change the penalties for certain offenses related to habitual offenders and would reduce the cleansing period for nonviolent or non-sexual crimes from 10 years to five.

Johns, LaFleur and Smith voted to concur with both bills, with Morrish reported as absent.

School rename

Senators also voted 28-3 to send S.B. 1, by Sen. Francis Thompson, D-Delhi, to the governor. The measure would rename the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts after former state Rep. Jimmy D. Long. 

An amendment added in the House on Monday would allow the school to use the original name for other purposes, like diplomas or transcripts, as determined by the board.

The legislation received considerable objection from alumni, who suggested a residence hall instead be named after Long rather than the school itself. 

Several House lawmakers mentioned on Monday receiving countless text messages and emails from supporters and opponents of renaming the school. Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, said the legislation got more response than the state’s budget bill, H.B. 1. Henry heads the House Appropriations Committee.

Johns, Morrish and Smith voted to concur with the amendment. LaFleur was marked as absent.

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