HLS 23RS-477 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 96
BY REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CRIME: Provides relative to penalties and responsive verdicts for negligent homicide
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 14:32(C)(1), (2)(a), and (3), relative to negligent homicide; to
3 provide for penalties; and to provide for related matters.
4Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
5 Section 1. R.S. 14:32(C)(1), (2)(a), and (3) are hereby amended and reenacted to
6read as follows:
7 ยง32. Negligent homicide
8 * * *
9 C.(1) Except as provided for in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, whoever
10 commits the crime of negligent homicide shall be imprisoned with or without hard
11 labor for not more than five twenty years, fined not more than five thousand dollars,
12 or both.
13 (2)(a) If the victim killed was under the age of ten years, the offender shall
14 be imprisoned at hard labor, without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of
15 sentence, for not less than two nor more than five twenty years.
16 * * *
17 (3) If the victim was killed by a dog or other animal, the owner of the dog
18 or other animal shall be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than five
19 twenty years or fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both.
20 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-477 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 96
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 96 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Thomas
Abstract: Provides relative to penalties for negligent homicide.
Present law (R.S. 14:32) provides for the crime of negligent homicide.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law (R.S. 14:32(C)(1)) provides that whoever commits the crime of negligent
homicide shall be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than five years, fined
not more than $5,000, or both.
Proposed law amends present law to change the maximum term of imprisonment from five
years to 20 years.
Present law (R.S. 14:32(C)(2)(a)) provides that if the victim killed was under the age of 10
years, the offender shall be imprisoned at hard labor, without benefit of probation, parole,
or suspension of sentence, for not less than two nor more than five years.
Proposed law amends present law to change the maximum term of imprisonment from five
years to 20 years.
Present law (R.S. 14:32(C)(3)) provides that if the victim was killed by a dog or other
animal, the owner of the dog or other animal shall be imprisoned with or without hard labor
for not more than five years or fined not more than $5,000, or both.
Proposed law amends present law to change the maximum term of imprisonment from five
years to 20 years.
(Amends R.S. 14:32(C)(1), (2)(a), 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. Make technical changes.
2. Remove the proposed law definition of "firearm" from the present law list of
definitions.
3. Remove proposed law provisions relative to the penalty for the killing of a
human being that is proximately or caused directly by the discharge of a firearm.
4. Remove present law provisions relative to responsive verdicts.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.