Constitutional Amendment No. 7 (ACT 246, 2022 - HB 298) - Provides relative to the prohibition of involuntary servitude and administration of criminal justice

Summary

To amend Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the prohibition of slavery and involuntary servitude; to provide relative to the administration of criminal justice; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters.

A "yes" vote supports amending the language of Article I, Section 3, of the state constitution to no longer include language allowing involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime and to introduce language that states it "does not apply to the otherwise lawful administration of criminal justice."

A "no" vote supports retaining Article I, Section 3, of the state constitution's language regarding slavery or involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime.

Arguments

"We want to remove offensive language and provide protection for citizens from slavery and involuntary servitude." - Max Parthas, Co-Director of State Operations at the Abolish Slavery National Network, in support of Constitutional Amendment No. 7 (ACT 246, 2022 - HB 298) (Learn more)

"If this amendment passes, then the incentive to incarcerate Black people will no longer exist." - Curtis Ray Davis II, Former Inmate and Author, in support of Constitutional Amendment No. 7 (ACT 246, 2022 - HB 298) (Learn more)

"The new amendment technically allows slavery. I don't think anybody thought of it that way, but that's what it says." - State Rep. Alan Seabaugh, in opposition to Constitutional Amendment No. 7 (ACT 246, 2022 - HB 298) (Learn more)

Measure Details