HLS 19RS-251 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 7
BY REPRESENTATIVE DWIGHT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CRIME: Creates the crime of communication interference
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 14:73.11, relative to communications; to create the crime of communication
3 interference; to provide elements of the crime; to provide for criminal penalties; and
4 to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 14:73.11 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง73.11. Communication interference
8 A. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously injure,
9 destroy, obstruct, hinder, delay the transmission of, or interfere with any of the
10 following communications:
11 (1) A communication that is operated or controlled by the state, its
12 contractors, or its political subdivisions.
13 (2) A communication that is used or intended to be used for military or civil
14 defense functions of the state.
15 (3) A communication that is controlled by any domestic or foreign
16 corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity created for the purpose
17 of or engaged in generating, transmitting, providing, and distributing utilities or
18 utility services to the public.
19 B. For purposes of this Section:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-251 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 7
1 (1) "Communication" includes any radio, telegraph, telephone, electronic,
2 satellite, or cable communication.
3 (2) "Utilities" or "utility services" includes services such as electricity, water,
4 natural gas, steam, cable, or electronic communication systems.
5 C. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any lawful strike activity,
6 or other lawful concerted activities for the purposes of collective bargaining or other
7 mutual aid and protection which do not injure or destroy any line or system used or
8 intended to be used for and by the state, for military or civil defense functions of the
9 state, or for any private entity as described in Subsection A of this Section.
10 D.(1) Any person convicted of a first offense of Subsection A of this Section
11 shall be subject to a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars, imprisonment of not
12 more than ten years, or both.
13 (2) Any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense of Subsection
14 A of this Section shall be subject to a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars,
15 imprisonment not more than fifteen years, or both.
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 7 Original 2019 Regular Session Dwight
Abstract: Prohibits interference with communications of the state, military or civil defense,
or any legal entity created for the purpose of providing utility services to the public.
Proposed law creates the crime of communication interference and defines it as the willful
or malicious interference with any communication operated or controlled by the state; used
or intended to be used by the military or civil defense functions; or controlled by any legal
entity created for the purpose of or engaged in generating, transmitting, providing, and
distributing utilities or utility services to the public.
Proposed law provides penalties of a fine of not more than $10,000, imprisonment of not
more than ten years, or both, for a first offense. For a second or subsequent offense, provides
penalties of a fine of not more than $10,000, imprisonment of not more than fifteen years,
or both.
(Adds R.S. 14:73.11)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.