House Bill No. by Representative Jackson enacts R.S. 14:71.5, establishing the crime of misappropriation of funds related to utility services. The bill defines the offense as knowingly failing to apply received payments for utility services to the corresponding bills within sixty days or using deception to avoid doing so. It outlines various penalties based on the value of the misappropriated funds, ranging from imprisonment for up to six months and fines for amounts under $1,000, to up to twenty years of hard labor and fines for amounts of $25,000 or more. Additionally, convicted individuals are required to make full restitution to victims.

The legislation also includes exceptions, stating that the provisions do not apply if the inability to pay is due to the tenant's failure to provide sufficient funds or administrative errors by the utility provider. The intent of the legislature is to create a clear criminal offense for the misappropriation of utility funds, targeting intentional nonpayment and fraud rather than isolated errors or disputes. The statute applies to both individuals and entities, ensuring comprehensive coverage of financial misconduct related to utility payments.

Statutes affected:
HB6 Original: 14:1(B)(5)