HLS 16RS-25 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 483
BY REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON
ELECTION OFFENSES: Provides relative to penalties for certain election offenses
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 18:1473, relative to election offenses; to provide relative to the criminal
3 penalties for certain election offenses; to provide for restitution for election expenses
4 under certain circumstances; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 18:1473 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง1473. Restitution for election expenses
8 In addition to the penalties provided elsewhere in this Chapter, a person
9 convicted pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter may be ordered to make full or
10 partial restitution to the state, a local or municipal entity, or both, for election
11 expenses incurred in conducting a new election ordered as a result of the offense.
12 If a person ordered to make restitution is found to be indigent and therefore unable
13 to make restitution at the time of conviction, the court shall order a periodic payment
14 plan consistent with the person's ability to pay.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-25 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 483
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)]
HB 483 Original 2016 Regular Session Mike Johnson
Abstract: Allows for restitution of certain election expenses by persons convicted of
election offenses.
Present law (Ch. 10 of Title 18) provides for election offenses, including bribery; coercion;
offenses affecting registration; election fraud and forgery; offenses affecting election
officials and watchers; offenses involving threats and intimidation of voters, election
officials, and candidates; and tampering with election equipment. Provides penalties for
violations of present law.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that in addition to the penalties provided in
present law, a person convicted pursuant to the provisions of present law may be ordered to
make full or partial restitution to the state, a local or municipal entity, or both, for election
expenses incurred in conducting a new election ordered as a result of the offense. Provides
that if a person ordered to make restitution is found to be indigent and therefore unable to
make restitution at the time of conviction, the court shall order a periodic payment plan
consistent with the person's ability to pay.
(Adds R.S. 18:1473)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.