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 213 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Hilferty
Abstract: Increases penalties for the crime of negligent homicide when victim killed by a dog or
other animal.
Present law provides that the crime of negligent homicide is either of the following:
(1)The killing of a human being by criminal negligence.
(2)The killing of a human being by a dog or other animal when the owner is reckless and
criminally negligent in confining or restraining the dog or other animal.
Present law provides penalties for the crime of negligent homicide as follows:
(1)Imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more than five years, fined not more than
$5,000, or both.
(2)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 changes the maximum penalty from five years to 20 years.
Present law 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 changes the element of the crime to require the owner to also be criminally negligent
and increases the maximum prison sentence from five to 20 years.
(Amends R.S. 14:32(C)(1), (2)(a), and (3))