ENROLLED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 7
BY REPRESENTATIVE DWIGHT
1 AN ACT
2 To 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; to
4 provide for exceptions; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be 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:
20 (1) "Communication" includes any radio, telegraph, telephone, electronic,
21 satellite, or cable communication.
22 (2) "Utilities" or "utility services" includes services such as electricity, water,
23 natural gas, steam, cable, or electronic communication systems.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 7 ENROLLED
1 C. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any of the following:
2 (1) Any lawful strike activity, or other lawful concerted activities for the
3 purposes of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection which do not
4 injure or destroy any line or system used or intended to be used for and by the state,
5 for military or civil defense functions of the state, or for any private entity as
6 described in Subsection A of this Section.
7 (2) An entity the security issues of which are subject to approval, control,
8 regulation, or supervision by the federal government or any agency thereof under any
9 other federal statute; an entity whose business is subject to regulation by the Federal
10 Communications Commission; or any entity conducting or carrying on its business
11 or operations in two or more states when engaged in the course and scope of their
12 business activities.
13 (3) Member-owned electric cooperatives, municipally owned electric service
14 providers, privately owned utilities, or investor-owned utilities regulated by the
15 Louisiana Public Service Commission or the city council of New Orleans when
16 engaged in the course and scope of their business activities.
17 D.(1) Any person convicted of a first offense of Subsection A of this Section
18 shall be subject to a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars, imprisonment with
19 or without hard labor for not more than ten years, or both.
20 (2) Any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense of Subsection
21 A of this Section shall be subject to a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars,
22 imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more than fifteen years, or both.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.