House Bill No. 275, introduced by Representative Boyd, amends the penalties for domestic abuse battery and battery of a dating partner when a minor child aged 13 or younger is present during the commission of the offense. The bill establishes that for a first offense, the offender will face imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than three years at hard labor. For a second or subsequent offense, the penalty increases to a minimum of three years and a maximum of six years at hard labor. This replaces the previous provision that allowed for a maximum of three years of hard labor without specifying minimum terms.

The bill aims to enhance the legal consequences for offenders in cases where children are endangered, thereby reinforcing the seriousness of domestic abuse in the presence of minors. The new legal language replaces the existing maximum penalty of three years with a structured sentencing framework that differentiates between first and subsequent offenses, thereby providing a clearer and more stringent approach to sentencing in these cases.

Statutes affected:
HB275 Original: 14:3(I)
HB275 Engrossed:
HB275 Reengrossed: 14:9(I), 14:3(I)