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ACT No. 1152026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 68
BY REPRESENTATIVES SCHLEGEL, ADAMS, AMEDEE, BAYHAM, BERAULT,
BILLINGS, BOYER, BUTLER, CARLSON, CARRIER, CARVER, CHENEVERT,
COATES, COX, DEVILLIER, DEWITT, DICKERSON, EDMONSTON,
FIRMENT, FONTENOT, GLORIOSO, HORTON, ILLG, MIKE JOHNSON,
MCMAKIN, MELERINE, MOORE, OWEN, SCHAMERHORN, VILLIO, AND
WILDER AND SENATOR HODGES
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 14:103(C) and to enact R.S. 14:103(A)(9) and (B)(3), relative
3 to offenses affecting the general peace and order; to provide for conduct that
4 constitutes disturbing the peace; to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties;
5 and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 14:103(C) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 14:103(A)(9)
8 and (B)(3) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §103. Disturbing the peace
10 A. Disturbing the peace is the doing of any of the following in such manner
11 as would foreseeably disturb or alarm the public:
12 * * *
13 (9) Interrupting any worship service or religious ceremony at a church or
14 other place of worship by any of the following:
15 (a) Violent, tumultuous, or threatening behavior directed at any person
16 lawfully attending, leading, or participating in the service.
17 (b) Unreasonably loud or abusive language or noise such that the service is
18 materially disrupted.
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1 (c) Interference with the conduct of the service by physical obstruction,
2 intimidation, or threat of force toward clergy, worship leaders, or attendees.
3 B.
4 * * *
5 (3)(a) Except as provided in Subparagraph (b), (c), or (d) of this Paragraph,
6 whoever commits the crime of disturbing the peace as provided in Paragraph (A)(9)
7 of this Section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for
8 not more than six months, or both. Thirty days of the sentence imposed shall be
9 served without benefit of probation or suspension of sentence.
10 (b) Whoever commits the crime of simple battery during the commission of
11 disturbing the peace as provided in Paragraph (A)(9) of this Section shall be
12 imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than two years.
13 (c) Whoever commits the crime of simple criminal damage to property
14 during the commission of disturbing the peace as provided in Paragraph (A)(9) of
15 this Section shall be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than two
16 years.
17 (d) Whoever commits the crime of disturbing the peace as provided in
18 Paragraph (A)(9) of this Section while armed with a dangerous weapon shall be
19 imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than five years.
20 * * *
21 C. For purposes of Paragraphs (A)(7) and (8) of this Section:
22 (1) "Church or other place of worship" means any building, structure, or
23 defined outdoor area that is owned, leased, or otherwise lawfully possessed by a
24 religious organization that is used for organized religious worship or other religious
25 activities.
26 (2) "Funeral" includes a funeral, funeral home viewing, wake, or memorial
27 service.
28 (2) (3) "Funeral route" means the route of ingress or egress from the location
29 of a funeral or burial, including thirty feet from the outer edge of the outside lane of
30 the route.
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1 (4) "Religious organization" means an entity that is operated for religious
2 purposes and qualifies for exemption from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the
3 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. Section 501).
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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