RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 249 (HB 577) 2019 Regular Session Norton
Prior law defined the crime of threatening a public official as any verbal or written
communication which threatened serious bodily injury or death to a public official.
New law amends prior law to do all of the following:
(1)Expands its application to threats made to law enforcement and threats made through
social media.
(2)Amends the elements of the offense to provide that the crime is committed when a
person engages in any verbal or written communication that is a true threat to a
public official or law enforcement officer.
Existing law provides that whoever commits the crime of threatening a public official shall
be fined not more than $500, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
Prior law penalties applied when the person committed the crime of threatening a public
official with the intent to influence his conduct in relation to his position, employment, or
official duty, or in retaliation as reprisal for his previous action in relation to his position,
employment, or official duty.
New law retains the existing law penalties of a fine up to $500 and imprisonment for up to
six months, but applies them generally to persons who commit the offense as defined by new
law. New law removes the provision providing specific penalties when the person commits
the crime of threatening a public official with the intent to influence or in retaliation for his
conduct in relation to his position, employment, or official duty.
Existing law defines "public official" as any executive, ministerial, administrative, judicial,
or legislative officer of the state of La.
New law retains existing law and further defines "law enforcement officer", "true threats",
and "verbal or written communication".
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Amends R.S. 14:122.2)