Legislative News Archives - Elizabeth B. Carpenter Attorney At Law

New Louisiana Human Trafficking Laws

New Louisiana Laws Aim to Crack Down on Human Trafficking In the eyes of some social-service agencies and law-enforcement officials, Louisiana has proven to be a hub for human trafficking. Young women – some under 18, some a little older -- are regularly brought into the state, or recruited from within, and allegedly forced into prostitution by their handlers. With that in mind, state Rep. Ronnie Johns, a Sulphur Republican, authored a few bills during the spring aimed at addressing the so-called human trafficking problem. Both bills received little or no opposition, and they have since been signed [...]

By Elizabeth B. Carpenter|2016-06-19T17:55:04+00:00June 19th, 2016|Categories: Legislative News, Sex Crimes|Tags: Human Trafficking, New Laws Louisiana|

2016 Proposed Legislative Changes Sex Offender Registry

Proposed Louisiana law seeks to further erode privacy of sex-offender registrants The Louisiana State Senate on May 24 passed House Bill 1146, which aims to give the public access to email addresses and online screen names of registered sex offenders. House members passed it earlier in May. The impetus behind the bill, which won unanimous approval of both chambers with support of Democrats and Republicans alike, is unclear. State Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, who sponsored the legislation, has told The (Baton Rouge) Advocate that the bill is aimed at helping parents keep their children away from sex offenders [...]

By Elizabeth B. Carpenter|2016-06-01T20:08:09+00:00June 1st, 2016|Categories: Legislative News, Sex Crimes|Tags: Louisiana Legislature, Sex Offender Registry|

Louisiana Lawmakers Want to Regulate Use of Drones

Bills to regulate drones hovering in Louisiana Legislature Amid booming sales of drones (unmanned aircraft) across the nation, states are trying to figure out how to regulate their commercial and recreational use. In many cases, lawmakers at the state and federal level are debating whether regulations are needed, given that most statutes already address any crime in which a drone might be used as a tool to carry out the offense. This also is the case in Louisiana, where a few bills addressing drone issues are winding through the 2016 legislative session. To date, the state has few [...]

By Elizabeth B. Carpenter|2016-04-15T14:05:11+00:00April 15th, 2016|Categories: Legislative News|Tags: Criminal Trespass, Drones, Louisiana Legislature, New Laws|

Louisiana 2016 Legislative Session: Bills to Watch

2016 Legislative session to address gun, marijuana, job laws The regular session of the Louisiana Legislature got underway March 14 and continues through June 6. While the big question concerns how lawmakers plan to balance the state’s gaping billion-dollar-plus budget hole, a variety of bills concerning guns and drugs are being monitored by criminal-defense lawyers and other legal observers. FIREARMS Near two-dozen bills on the table involve handguns and concealed-carry rights. For example, Rep. Barry Ivey, a Republican from Baton Rouge, filed a bill to amend the Louisiana Constitution to allow anyone 21 or older to carry a [...]

By Elizabeth B. Carpenter|2016-03-31T15:43:59+00:00March 31st, 2016|Categories: Legislative News|Tags: Firearms, Louisiana Legislature, Marijuana Legalization|

Misdemeanor Sexual Battery — Louisiana Law

Misdemeanor Sexual Battery During the 2015 legislative session, Louisiana lawmakers created the crime of misdemeanor sexual battery. This offense is defined as the following: The intentional touching of the breasts or buttocks of the victim by the offender, or the offender by the victim, using any instrumentality or any part of the body of the offender, directly or through clothing, when the offender acts without the consent of the victim. Anyone who is convicted of this offense is not eligible to have the conviction set aside or have the prosecution dismissed. In other words. the person may [...]

By Elizabeth B. Carpenter|2016-03-01T15:57:38+00:00March 1st, 2016|Categories: Crimes Defined, Legislative News, Sex Crimes|Tags: Misdemeanor Attorney, New Laws, Sex Crimes Defense Attorney New Orleans|

Distribution of Material Harmful to Minors through Internet

Unlawful distribution of material harmful to minors through the Internet -- La. R.S. 14:91.14 This criminal offense was created by Louisiana lawmakers during the 2015 legislative session. This statute went into effect on August 1, 2015. Any person or entity in Louisiana that publishes material harmful to minors on the Internet shall, prior to permitting access to the material, require any person attempting to access the material to electronically acknowledge and attest that the person seeking to access the material is eighteen years of age or older. The failure to comply with the provisions herein shall constitute [...]

By Elizabeth B. Carpenter|2016-02-24T14:46:52+00:00February 24th, 2016|Categories: Cyber Crimes, Legislative News, Uncategorized|Tags: New Law, New Orleans Internet Crimes attorney|

Preliminary Versions of Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015

U.S. Senate and House Introduce Separate Versions of Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 Committees from both the U.S. Senate and the House have introduced bills that could reform federal sentencing. Below is a brief recap of each piece of legislation. Senate Bill Reduces the enhanced penalties that apply to repeat drug offenders and eliminates the three-strike mandatory life provision, but allows those enhanced penalties to be applied to offenders with prior convictions for serious violent and serious drug felonies. Expands the existing safety valve to offenders with more extensive criminal histories but excludes defendants [...]

By Elizabeth B. Carpenter|2015-11-03T23:53:41+00:00November 2nd, 2015|Categories: Drug Crimes, Federal Crimes, Legislative News, Sentencing|Tags: Federal Sentencing, Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015|

Revenge Porn: Louisiana Lawmakers Pass New Law

Louisiana Joins Trend of States Banning ‘Revenge Porn’ “Vengeance is mine” is a quote often attributed to God by Bible followers. (Romans: 12:19, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”) It encourages people to leave justice to a higher power in lieu of taking matters into their own hands. But, “vengeance is mine” also is a sentiment put into practice by jilted lovers who participate in “revenge porn,” which, generally, is the act of posting sexual photos of an ex-lover. The forces fighting the Internet exposure. Last year I posted a blog about the increasing [...]

By Elizabeth B. Carpenter|2015-08-14T19:35:02+00:00August 14th, 2015|Categories: Criminal Statutes, Cyber Crimes, Legislative News|Tags: New Orleans Cyber Crimes Attorney, Revenge Porn|

Re-Homing of a Child – Louisiana Law

Re-Homing of a Child -- La. R.S. 14:46.4 This law was enacted during the 2014 legislative session. The statute may be found here. Re-homing of a child is any one of the following: (1) A transaction, or any action taken to facilitate such transaction, through electronic means or otherwise by a parent or any individual or entity with custody of a child who intends to avoid or divest himself of permanent parental responsibility by placing the child in the physical custody of a non-relative, without court approval, unless Subsection B of this Section applies. Actions include but are [...]

By Elizabeth B. Carpenter|2015-06-12T15:26:31+00:00January 26th, 2015|Categories: Crimes Defined, Criminal Statutes, Legislative News|Tags: One of the best Criminal Defense Attorneys in New Orleans, Re-homing of a child|

Residential Contractor Fraud – Louisiana Law

During the 2014 legislative session, the Louisiana law makers repealed the statute for Home Improvement Fraud and replaced it with Residential Contractor Fraud. Louisiana Residential Contractor Fraud Statute-- La. R.S. 14:202.1 Residential contractor fraud is the misappropriation or intentional taking of anything of value which belongs to another, either without the consent of the other to the misappropriation or taking, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations by a person who has contracted to perform any home improvement or residential construction, or who has subcontracted for the performance of any home improvement or residential construction. A [...]

By Elizabeth B. Carpenter|2015-06-12T15:15:16+00:00January 21st, 2015|Categories: Crimes Defined, Criminal Statutes, Legislative News, White Collar Crime|Tags: Contractor Fraud, White collar crime attorney new orleans|