House Bill No. 455, introduced by Representative Riser, aims to prevent beneficiaries from receiving financial proceeds from accounts such as certificates of deposit, mutual funds, individual retirement accounts, and pension plans if they are found to be involved in the unjustified killing of the account holder. The bill enacts a new section, R.S. 6:339, which stipulates that a beneficiary, assignee, or other payee will be disqualified from receiving any benefits if they are held criminally responsible or judicially determined to have participated in the intentional killing of the account holder.

In cases where a beneficiary is disqualified, the bill provides that the proceeds will be payable to a secondary or contingent beneficiary, unless they are also disqualified. If no eligible secondary or contingent beneficiary exists, the funds will then go to the estate of the account holder. This legislation seeks to ensure that individuals who commit serious crimes against account holders do not benefit financially from their actions.