Shreveport Representative Steven Jackson has prefiled a bill for the 2025 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature that addresses the failure of apartment landlords for failing to pay master meter utility bills.
Jackson's proposed legislation read as follows:
"No person who has received money or payment in accordance with the lease contract or rental agreement to pay utility services shall knowingly fail to apply the money or payment as necessary to satisfy the amount owed for such utility services.
A person who violates the provision of this Section shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not more than ten years, fined not more than one hundred thousand dollars, or both. "
The proposed legislation also requires a person convicted of this crime be ordered to make full restitution to the victim and pay another person who has suffered a financial loss as a result of the crime.
Jackson's prefiled bill also provides for civil remedies for misappropriation of moneys that should be paid for utilities.
Jackson is to be commended for sponsoring this legislation. Surely the Shreveport delegation will support these proposals that are certainly needed in Shreveport as well as the rest of the state.
Hat's off to Jackson!