HLS 25RS-203 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 5
BY REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CRIME/PROSTITUTION: Provides relative to the crime of soliciting for prostitutes
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 14:83(B)(1)(b) and R.S. 15:541(24)(a), relative to offenses
3 concerning prostitution; to provide relative to the crime of solicitation of prostitution;
4 to provide for penalties; to provide for a definition; to provide with respect to sex
5 offender registration and notification requirements; and to provide for related
6 matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 14:83(B)(1)(b) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 §83. Soliciting for prostitutes
10 * * *
11 B.(1)
12 * * *
13 (b) Whoever commits a second or subsequent offense for the crime of
14 soliciting for prostitutes shall be fined not less than one thousand five hundred
15 dollars nor more than two thousand dollars, imprisoned at hard labor for not more
16 than one year, or both, and one-half of the fines collected shall be distributed in
17 accordance with R.S. 15:539.4.
18 * * *
19 Section 2. R.S. 15:541(24)(a) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
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HB NO. 5
1 §541. Definitions
2 For the purposes of this Chapter, the definitions of terms in this Section shall
3 apply:
4 * * *
5 (24)(a) "Sex offense" means deferred adjudication, adjudication withheld,
6 or conviction for the perpetration or attempted perpetration of or conspiracy to
7 commit human trafficking when prosecuted under the provisions of R.S.
8 14:46.2(B)(2), R.S. 14:46.3 (trafficking of children for sexual purposes), R.S. 14:89
9 (crime against nature), R.S. 14:89.1 (aggravated crime against nature), R.S.
10 14:89.2(B)(3) (crime against nature by solicitation), R.S. 14:80 (felony carnal
11 knowledge of a juvenile), R.S. 14:81 (indecent behavior with juveniles), R.S. 14:81.1
12 (pornography involving juveniles), R.S. 14:81.2 (molestation of a juvenile or a
13 person with a physical or mental disability), R.S. 14:81.3 (computer-aided
14 solicitation of a minor), R.S. 14:81.4 (prohibited sexual conduct between an educator
15 and student), R.S. 14:82.1 (prostitution; persons under eighteen), R.S. 14:82.2(C)(4)
16 and (5) (purchase of commercial sexual activity), a second or subsequent conviction
17 of R.S. 14:83(B)(1) (soliciting for prostitutes), R.S. 14:92(A)(7) (contributing to the
18 delinquency of juveniles), R.S. 14:93.5 (sexual battery of persons with infirmities),
19 R.S. 14:106(A)(5) (obscenity by solicitation of a person under the age of seventeen),
20 R.S. 14:283 (video voyeurism), R.S. 14:41 (rape), R.S. 14:42 (aggravated or first
21 degree rape), R.S. 14:42.1 (forcible or second degree rape), R.S. 14:43 (simple or
22 third degree rape), R.S. 14:43.1 (sexual battery), R.S. 14:43.2 (second degree sexual
23 battery), R.S. 14:43.3 (oral sexual battery), R.S. 14:43.5 (intentional exposure to
24 HIV), a second or subsequent conviction of R.S. 14:283.1 (voyeurism), or a second
25 or subsequent conviction of R.S. 14:89.3 (sexual abuse of an animal), committed on
26 or after June 18, 1992, or committed prior to June 18, 1992, if the person, as a result
27 of the offense, is under the custody of the Department of Public Safety and
28 Corrections on or after June 18, 1992. A conviction for any offense provided in this
29 definition includes a conviction for the offense under the laws of another state, or
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HB NO. 5
1 military, territorial, foreign, tribal, or federal law which is equivalent to an offense
2 provided for in this Chapter, unless the tribal court or foreign conviction was not
3 obtained with sufficient safeguards for fundamental fairness and due process for the
4 accused as provided by the federal guidelines adopted pursuant to the Adam Walsh
5 Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.
6 * * *
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 5 Original 2025 Regular Session Jackson
Abstract: Provides relative to the penalty for a second or subsequent offense of soliciting
for prostitutes and adds this offense to the enumerated sex offenses for purposes of
sex offender registration and notification requirements.
Present law (R.S. 14:83) provides for the offense of soliciting for prostitutes and provides
for various penalties.
Proposed law retains present law generally.
Present law (R.S. 14:83(B)(1)(b)) provides that whoever commits a second or subsequent
offense of soliciting for prostitutes shall be fined not less than $1,500 nor more than $2,000,
imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. Present law further provides that 1/2 of the
fines collected shall be distributed in accordance with present law (R.S. 15:539.4).
Proposed law amends present law to provide that for a second or subsequent offense of
soliciting for prostitutes, the term of imprisonment shall be at hard labor.
Present law (R.S. 15:541) provides for definitions relative to sex offenders.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law (R.S. 15:541(24)(a)) defines the term "sex offense".
Proposed law amends present law to include a second or subsequent conviction of soliciting
for prostitutes within the term "sex offense".
(Amends R.S. 14:83(B)(1)(b) and R.S. 15:541(24)(a))
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are additions.