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 507 Original 2024 Regular Session Zeringue
Abstract: Relative to the crime of unauthorized entry of a critical infrastructure, adds water control
structures to the definition of critical infrastructure, and provides for an increased penalty
when the crime is committed during the existence of a state of emergency.
Present law provides for the crimes of unauthorized entry of a critical infrastructure and criminal
damage to a critical infrastructure.
Present law defines "critical infrastructure" as any and all structures, equipment, or other immovable
or movable property located within or upon chemical manufacturing facilities, refineries, electrical
power generating facilities, electrical transmission substations and distribution substations, water
intake structures and water treatment facilities, natural gas transmission compressor stations,
liquified natural gas terminals and storage facilities, natural gas and hydrocarbon storage facilities,
transportation facilities, such as ports, railroad switching yards, pipelines, and trucking terminals,
or any site where the construction or improvement of any facility or structure is occurring.
Proposed law amends the present law definition of "critical infrastructure" to add water control
structures, including floodgates or pump stations.
Present law provides that whoever commits the crime of unauthorized entry of a critical
infrastructure shall be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than five years, fined not
more than $1,000, or both.
Proposed law retains the present law penalties and provides for a fine of not more than $5,000 and
imprisonment at hard labor for not less than three years nor more than 15 years when the crime is
committed during the existence of a state of emergency, which has been declared by the governor
or the chief executive officer of any parish.
Proposed law also provides that whoever commits subsequent offenses shall be fined not less than
$500 and no more than $4,000, or be imprisonment with or without hard labor for not less than six
months but no more than 10 years, or both.
(Amends R.S. 14.61(B)-(D); Adds R.S. 14:61(E))