HLS 23RS-663 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 441
BY REPRESENTATIVE BRYANT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CRIME/ASSAULT: Provides relative to assault upon a utility service employee
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 14:37.5(B)(2) and (3), relative to assault; to provide relative to
3 the crime of aggravated assault upon a utility service employee with a firearm; to
4 amend definitions; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 14:37.5(B)(2) and (3) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
7follows:
8 ยง37.5. Aggravated assault upon a utility service employee with a firearm
9 * * *
10 B. For purposes of this Section:
11 * * *
12 (2) "Utility service" means any electricity, gas, water, broadband, cable
13 television, heat, steam, or telecommunications service, or sewer services.
14 (3) "Utility service employee" means any uniformed, readily identified
15 employee of any utility service, including any person employed under contract, of
16 any utility service that provides electricity, gas, water, broadband, cable television,
17 heat, steam, telecommunications services, or sewer services, whether privately,
18 municipally, cooperatively, or investor-owned.
19 * * *
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-663 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 441
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 441 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Bryant
Abstract: Amends definitions of "utility service" and "utility service employee".
Present law provides for the crime of aggravated assault upon a utility service employee with
a firearm and provides for penalties.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides for the following definitions:
(1)"Utility service" means any electricity, gas, water, broadband, cable television, or
telecommunications service.
(2)"Utility service employee" means any uniformed, readily identified employee of any
utility service.
Proposed law amends the present law definition of "utility service" to include heat, steam,
and sewer services. Further amends the present law definition of "utility service employee"
to include any person employed under contract, or an employee of any utility service that
provides electricity, gas, water, broadband, cable television, heat, steam, telecommunications
services, or sewer services, whether privately, municipally, cooperatively, or investor-
owned.
(Amends R.S. 14:37.5(B)(2) and (3))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of
Criminal Justice to the original bill:
1. Extend the definition of "utility service employee" to encompass an individual
who works for a utility service that is investor-owned.
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.