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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2010
SENATE BILL NO. 94
BY SENATOR MURRAY
CRIME/PUNISHMENT. Creates the crime of the production, manufacture, distribution, or
possession of a fraudulent postsecondary education degree. (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 14:72.5, relative to a fraudulent postsecondary education degree; to create the2
crime of the unlawful production, manufacture, distribution, or possession of a3
fraudulent postsecondary education degree; to provide for definitions; to provide for4
an effective date; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 14:72.5 is hereby enacted to read as follows:7
ยง72.5. Unlawful production, manufacture, distribution or possession of8
fraudulent postsecondary education degree9
A. No person shall knowingly or intentionally buy, sell, produce,10
manufacture, or distribute for any purpose a fraudulent postsecondary11
education degree or other document purporting to confer any degree or certify12
the completion in whole or in part of any course of study.13
B. For purposes of this Section:14
(1) "Distribute a fraudulent postsecondary education degree" means to15
sell, give, transport, issue, provide, lend, deliver, transfer, transmit, distribute,16
or disseminate a fraudulent postsecondary education degree for any purpose.17 SB NO. 94
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
(2) "Fraudulent postsecondary education degree" means a credential1
presented as a degree which provides information that is false, forged, altered,2
or counterfeit and signifies the satisfactory completion of the requirements of3
a postsecondary education program.4
(3) "Produce or manufacture fraudulent postsecondary education5
degree" means to develop, prepare, design, create, or process a fraudulent6
postsecondary education degree for any purpose.7
C. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not8
more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or9
both.10
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not11
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature12
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If13
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become14
effective on the day following such approval.15
The original instrument was prepared by Angela Lockett De Jean. The
following digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative
instrument, was prepared by Linda Nugent.
DIGEST
Murray (SB 94)
Proposed law provides that it will be unlawful for a person to knowingly or intentionally
buy, sell, produce, manufacture, or distribute, for any purpose, a fraudulent postsecondary
education degree or other document purporting to confer any degree or certify the
completion in whole or in part of any course of study.
Proposed law provides that "distribute a fraudulent postsecondary degree" means to sell,
give, transport, issue, provide, lend, deliver, transfer, transmit, distribute, or disseminate
fraudulent postsecondary education degree for any purpose.
Proposed law defines "fraudulent postsecondary education degree" as a credential presented
as a degree which provides information that is false, forged, altered, or counterfeit and
signifies the satisfactory competition of the requirements of a postsecondary education
degree.
Proposed law provides that "produce or manufacture fraudulent postsecondary education
degree" means to develop, prepare, design, create, or process a fraudulent postsecondary
education degree for any purpose.
Proposed law provides that whoever violates the provisions of proposed law will be fined
not more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. SB NO. 94
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 14:72.5)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary C to the
original bill.
1. Changes the element of the crime to provide that it will be unlawful for a
person to knowingly or intentionally buy, sell, produce, manufacture,
distribute, issue, possess or use, for any purpose, a fraudulent postsecondary
education degree or other document purporting to confer any degree or
certify the completion in whole or in part of any course of study.
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill.
1. Eliminates "issue, possess or use" a fraudulent postsecondary education
degree as being unlawful under proposed law.