2020 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 344
BY SENATOR JOHNS
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 33:1376, relative to the regulation of battery-charged fences; to authorize
3 parish and municipal governing authorities to enact ordinances to provide for such
4 regulation; to provide for the requirements of any such ordinance; and to provide for
5 related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 33:1376 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง1376. Ordinances; battery-charged fences; parishes and municipalities
9 A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
10 governing authority of any parish or municipality may provide, by ordinance,
11 for the regulation of battery-charged fences installed within its jurisdiction. Any
12 such ordinance shall require that a battery-charged fence meet the following
13 requirements:
14 (1) Interfaces with a monitored alarm device in a manner that enables
15 the alarm system to transmit a signal intended to summon law enforcement in
16 response to an intrusion or burglary.
17 (2) Is located on property that is not zoned exclusively for residential
18 use.
19 (3) Has an energizer that is powered by a commercial storage battery
20 that is not more than twelve volts of direct current.
21 (4) Has an energizer that meets the standards set forth by the
22 International Electrotechnical Commission Standard 60335-2-76, current
23 edition.
24 (5) Is surrounded by a nonelectric perimeter fence or wall that is not less
25 than five feet in height.
ACT No. 349
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 344 ENROLLED
1 (6) Is the higher of ten feet in height or two feet higher than the height
2 of the nonelectric perimeter fence or wall.
3 (7) Is marked with conspicuous warning signs that are located on the
4 battery-charged fence at not more than forty-foot intervals and that read:
5 "WARNING-ELECTRIC FENCE".
6 B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no parish
7 or municipal governing authority shall enact an ordinance that:
8 (1) Requires a permit or fee for the installation or use of a
9 battery-charged fence that is in addition to an alarm system permit issued by
10 the parish or municipality.
11 (2) Imposes installation or operational requirements for the
12 battery-charged fence that are inconsistent with the requirements provided for
13 in Subsection A of this Section.
14 (3) Prohibits the installation or use of a battery-charged fence.
15 C. As used in this Section, "battery-charged fence" means a new or
16 existing alarm system and ancillary components or equipment attached to such
17 a system, including but not limited to: a fence, a battery-operated energizer
18 which is intended to periodically deliver voltage impulses to the fence connected
19 to it, and a battery charging device used exclusively to charge the battery.
20 However, "battery-charged fence" does not mean an electrically charged fence
21 used for agriculture or animal containment purposes.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.