House Bill No. by Representative Bayham aims to amend existing laws regarding the desecration of graves and institutional vandalism by increasing penalties and introducing restitution requirements. Specifically, the bill raises the maximum fine for desecration of graves from $500 to $1,000 and mandates that offenders make restitution for damages incurred. Similarly, for institutional vandalism, the fine for damages less than $500 is increased from $500 to $1,000, and for damages between $500 and $50,000, the fine is adjusted to a range of $1,000 to $5,000.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision that requires offenders to make restitution when the vandalized institution is a religious building or structure. This change emphasizes the importance of accountability and compensation for damages caused by such acts. Overall, the proposed law seeks to strengthen the penalties associated with these offenses and ensure that victims receive restitution for their losses.

Statutes affected:
HB330 Original: 14:101(B), 14:225(B)(1)