BATON ROUGE — Nine of 10 criminal justice reform bills have been sent to Gov. John Bel Edwards for his signature, and the 10th is expected to join the others.

Two cleared their final hurdle Wednesday when the House concurred with amendments added by the Senate.

Reform of the criminal justice system is considered one of the few positive actions taken by a Legislature that was supposed to reform the budget and tax systems and raise funds to wipe out an expected $1.3 billion deficit coming on July 1, 2018. Neither was accomplished.

Criminal justice reform has become a national goal, and it has enjoyed rare bipartisan support.

Louisiana has a special interest because its 10-bill package is expected to remove the state from having the highest incarceration rate in the country.

The bills would reduce mandatory minimum sentences; expand parole eligibility; relieve inmates of financial burdens when they are released; and guarantee victim notification when inmates are considered for probation and parole.

House Bill 249, by Rep. Tanner Magee, R-Houma, would allow judges to decide restitution payments based on an offender’s ability to pay. It also would set up penalties when offenders don’t make payments or fail to appear in court when payments are missed.

When asked if they get out of paying simply because they don’t want to pay, Magee said the judge would have to decide whether it’s the offender’s choice not to pay.

The vote to concur with Senate changes to Magee’s bill was 67-25. Voting to concur were Reps. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles; James Armes, D-Leesville; Mike Danahay, D-Sulphur; Stephen Dwight, R-Moss Bluff; A.B. Franklin, D-Lake Charles; Dorothy Sue Hill, D-Dry Creek; and Frank Howard, R-Many.

Rep. Johnny Guinn, R-Jennings, was opposed. Rep. Bob Hensgens, R-Abbeville, was recorded as absent.

H.B. 680, by Rep. Joseph Marino, I-Gretna, would suspend child support payments for inmates confined for more than 180 days. Marino said during debate that it’s nearly impossible for offenders to make those payments while behind bars.

The bill does have exceptions, and suspension of payments wouldn’t be possible if the offender has the means to make them or if he or she is incarcerated for a custodial offense.

Marino’s measure was concurred in with a 60-25 vote. All nine Southwest Louisiana House members voted to concur.

The 10th measure is Senate Bill 16, by Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge. It would make it difficult to sentence juveniles to life without parole — which stems from a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

The Senate rejected House amendments to the bill, putting it in a conference committee to try to iron out the differences.