Bill > HB363

This bill amends Louisiana law to update language and provisions related to cruelty and exploitation of elderly persons and persons with infirmities. The bill clarifies and expands definitions, replacing the term "aged" with "elderly" throughout the statute and defining "elderly" as any individual sixty years of age or older. It maintains existing penalties for cruelty and exploitation, which include fines up to $10,000 and imprisonment for up to ten years. The bill introduces new provisions for repeat offenders of exploitation, including increased fines up to $20,000 and mandatory minimum imprisonment for second or subsequent convictions. Additionally, the legislation mandates that individuals convicted of exploiting elderly persons or persons with infirmities be prohibited from serving as power of attorney or guardian, and must make full restitution to victims. The bill also preserves an existing affirmative defense for caregivers providing treatment according to recognized spiritual healing methods and expands the definition of financial exploitation to include specific financial misconduct. These changes aim to provide stronger legal protections for vulnerable populations by more precisely defining offenses and increasing potential consequences for perpetrators.