Bill > HB1238

This bill, known as the Louisiana Behind the Counter Protection Act, enhances penalties for simple assault and simple battery committed against employees of regulated establishments, which are defined as businesses with checkout stations, service counters, or similar transaction points. Specifically, it increases the fines and potential jail time for these offenses when they target such employees, making simple battery against them punishable by up to a $2,000 fine or two years imprisonment, and simple assault by up to a $1,000 fine or six months imprisonment. The bill also creates new provisions defining "workplace violence" to include acts of violence or credible threats against employees performing their duties, and establishes that such offenses will be charged under the enhanced penalty provisions for simple assault and battery. Furthermore, it allows regulated establishments to post warning signs about workplace violence and requires the Louisiana Works department to provide these signs.