House Bill No. by Representative Melerine establishes the crime of theft specifically related to the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program. The bill enacts a new section, R.S. 14:67.8, which defines the intentional misuse of account funds associated with the LA GATOR Scholarship Program for unauthorized purposes. It outlines various penalties based on the amount misappropriated, including imprisonment and fines that escalate with the value of the theft. For instance, theft of $25,000 or more can result in up to 20 years of hard labor imprisonment and a fine of up to $50,000, while theft of less than $1,000 carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Additionally, the bill mandates that individuals convicted under this new law must make full restitution to victims and others who have incurred financial losses due to the offense. It also includes enhanced penalties for repeat offenders who have previously been convicted of theft involving amounts less than $1,000. Overall, this legislation aims to protect the integrity of the LA GATOR Scholarship Program by imposing strict consequences for financial misconduct.