A invoice that might present penalties for misuse of tenant funds by landlords is headed to Gov. Jeff Landry‘s desk for a attainable signature.

Landlords might quickly obtain legal penalties for misusing tenant funds. Each the Senate and the Home authorized laws by Rep. Steven Jackson, D-Shreveport, this week securing it a spot on the governor’s desk.

The laws would require funds acquired by landlords be paid to the owed steadiness no later than 60 days after the tenant receives the utility invoice.

If the misappropriation of funds is $25,000 or extra, the accused can be imprisoned for not more than 20 years and face fines as much as $50,000. If the misappropriation totals $5,000 or extra however lower than $25,000, the accused faces as much as 10 years of imprisonment and fines as much as $10,000. These accused of misappropriating $1,000 to $4,999 withstand 5 years of imprisonment and as much as $3,000 in fines.

Any misuse of lower than $1,000 will lead to as much as six months of imprisonment and/or fines as much as $1,000.

These victimized by landlord misappropriation will obtain restitution for monetary losses.

Jackson has been combating for tenant rights since February after chatting with the Shreveport Metropolis Council in regards to the newly launched invoice. Problems with landlords misusing funds all through Shreveport and Caddo Parish usually are not new, and metropolis officers have repeatedly explored laws, ordinances, and resolutions to assist residents.

The proposed laws will maintain landlords accountable for misusing funds acquired by tenants in condo complexes. Many residents have paid their water and utility payments prior to now solely to be evacuated from their properties after providers had been shut off.

The Shreveport Metropolis Council has despatched of their assist for a lot of payments regarding Shreveport, together with HB6.

“I see this as an answer for hardworking trustworthy individuals who have been taken benefit of,” Jackson mentioned beforehand.