ENROLLED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 370
BY REPRESENTATIVES LANDRY, BACALA, CARRIER, ROBBY CARTER,
EDMONSTON, FREEMAN, GOUDEAU, GREEN, HILFERTY, HORTON,
JENKINS, KNOX, AND MOORE
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 14:107.3(B) and (C), to enact R.S. 14:107.3(H) and R.S.
3 15:1352(A)(70), and to repeal R.S. 14:107.3(D), relative to criminal blighting of
4 property; to provide relative to penalties for the offense; to provide relative to review
5 and appeal of declarations of certifications of blight; to provide for additional crimes
6 that are elements of racketeering activity; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 14:107.3(B) and (C) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
9 14:107.3(H) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §107.3. Criminal blighting of property
11 * * *
12 B. Criminal blighting of property is the intentional or criminally negligent
13 permitting of the existence of a condition of deterioration of property by the owner,
14 which is deemed to have occurred when the property has been declared or certified
15 as blighted after an administrative hearing, pursuant to R.S. 13:2575 or 2576, and
16 after all reviews or appeals have occurred.
17 C.(1) On the a first conviction, the offender shall be punished by a fine fined
18 not to exceed more than five hundred dollars per violation. Imposition of a fine may
19 be suspended and in lieu thereof, the court may require the offender to correct all
20 existing housing violations on the blighted property within a timely manner
21 determined by the court.
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1 (2) On a second conviction, or if the offender fails to correct violations after
2 ordered to do so by the court, the offender shall be punished by a fine not to exceed
3 five hundred fined not more than one thousand dollars per violation and ordered to
4 perform not more than forty hours of community service imprisoned for not more
5 than six months. Additionally, the court shall require that the offender correct all
6 existing housing violations on the blighted property.
7 (3) On any third or subsequent conviction, or if the offender fails to correct
8 all violations after a second conviction, the offender shall be punished by a fine not
9 to exceed fined not more than two thousand dollars per violation, and ordered to
10 perform not more than eighty hours of community service, or both. Additionally, the
11 court shall require that the offender correct all existing housing violations on the
12 blighted property imprisoned for not more than one year, with or without hard labor.
13 (4) The penalty of imprisonment provided for in this Subsection shall not be
14 imposed when the property is a single family residence occupied by the defendant
15 at the time of the violation.
16 * * *
17 H. Prosecution pursuant to this Section may occur concurrently with review
18 and appeal of declarations and certifications of blight.
19 Section 2. R.S. 15:1352(A)(70) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
20 §1352. Definitions
21 A. As used in this Chapter, "racketeering activity" means committing,
22 attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or soliciting, coercing, or intimidating
23 another person to commit any crime that is punishable under the following
24 provisions of Title 14 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, the Uniform
25 Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, or the Louisiana Securities Law:
26 * * *
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1 (70) R.S. 14:107.3 (Criminal blighting of property)
2 * * *
3 Section 3. R.S. 14:107.3(D) is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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