HLS 12RS-467 ENGROSSED
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 509
BY REPRESENTATIVE LORUSSO
ELECTION OFFENSES: Prohibits certain conduct relative to the withdrawal from an
election of a candidate for public office
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 18:1461.5(A)(4), relative to elections; to prohibit certain conduct relative to2
the withdrawal from an election of a candidate for public office; to provide for3
penalties; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 18:1461.5(A)(4) is hereby enacted to read as follows: 6
§1461.5. Election offenses involving bribery, threats or intimidation of election7
officials or candidates; penalties8
A. No person shall knowingly, willfully, or intentionally:9
* * *10
(4)(a) Give or offer to give, directly or indirectly, any money or any thing11
of apparent present or prospective value to a candidate for public office for the12
purpose of securing the candidate’s withdrawal from an election.13
(b) Solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, money or any thing of apparent14
present or prospective value to secure the withdrawal from an election of a candidate15
for public office.16
* * *17 HLS 12RS-467 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 509
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Lorusso HB No. 509
Abstract: Prohibits solicitation or acceptance of a thing of value to secure the withdrawal
of a candidate from an election.
Present law prohibits certain conduct related to withdrawal of a candidate in an election.
Prohibits a person from knowingly, willfully, or intentionally:
(1)Giving or offering to give, directly or indirectly, any money or any thing of apparent
present or prospective value to any person who has withdrawn or who was
eliminated prior or subsequent to the primary election as a candidate for public
office, for the purpose of securing or giving his political support to any remaining
candidate or candidates for public office in the primary or general election.
(2)When such person is a candidate for public office who has withdrawn or was
eliminated prior to or subsequent to the primary election, accepting or offering to
accept, directly or indirectly, any money, or anything of apparent present or
prospective value that is given for the purpose of securing or giving his political
support to any remaining candidate or candidates for public office in the primary or
general election.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally prohibits a person from knowingly,
willfully, or intentionally:
(1)Giving or offering to give, directly or indirectly, any money or any thing of apparent
present or prospective value to a candidate for public office for the purpose of
securing the candidate's withdrawal from an election.
(2)Soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, money or any thing of apparent present
or prospective value to secure the withdrawal from an election of a candidate for
public office.
Present law provides that whoever violates any provision of present law shall be fined not
more than $2,000 or be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than two years,
or both, for the first offense. Provides that on a second offense, or any subsequent offense,
the penalty shall be a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment at hard labor for not
more than five years, or both.
Proposed law provides that present law penalties shall apply to violations of proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 18:1461.5(A)(4))