logo
La. proposed bill to criminalize ‘intentional exposure' to STDs, advances

La. proposed bill to criminalize ‘intentional exposure' to STDs, advances

Yahoo01-06-2025
LOUISIANA (KTAL/KMSS) — A Louisiana House bill to criminalize those who intentionally expose others to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) without their consent has moved forward and is awaiting deliberation on the House floor.
Louisiana State Representative Patricia 'Pat' Moore (D-Monroe) stated that she has been approached by victims who have contracted incurable STDs from offenders, former partners, or spouses. Her goal is to establish criminal charges, both felonies and misdemeanors, for individuals who intentionally expose others to STDs.
House Bill 76 was initially shelved on May 7; however, on May 28, 2025, it was Moore amended the proposal the night before the hearing to include rape and sexual battery, 'to criminalize and fine, not more than $5,000, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than ten years, or both.'
Nonprofit groups testified against this bill, including the Louisiana Coalition on Criminalization and Health. U.S. Air Force veteran and member of LCCH, Jazmine Carroll, gave testimony discussing her concerns regarding HB76.
'I oppose this bill because I believe that it discourages people from getting tested, because you can only be accused of intentionally exposing your disease to somebody if you know your status. And so, this puts people who know their status at an in and at a higher risk than those who don't.'
Carroll is also pursuing a Master's in Public Health, and shares that women are routinely tested for HPV, thus have higher rates of HPV, specifically cervical cancer.
'HPV is only currently diagnosed through routine pap smears that women receive to detect signs of cervical cancer. There is no similarly approved routine HPV test for men. That means that the burden of diagnosis and disclosure will disproportionately fall on women, and that this bill would disproportionately affect, stigmatize, and criminalize women even if they're doing everything right,' said a physician during the House testimonials.
During Carroll's testimony, she also highlighted how women in the military experience higher rates of intimate partner violence. She shared that when women in the military disclose their experience, they are often faced with violence.
Moore says HB76 specifically targets individuals living with common 'incurable STIs' such as HIV, herpes, HPV, and Hepatitis B.
Louisiana bill that would ban fluoride in public drinking water fails in committee
'I just have a problem with no accountability,' emphasised Moore.
When asked if it would also pertain to congenital STDs (diseases passed from mother to fetus), Representative Moore said she was unsure. However, she would need to discuss this further with her constituents.
'You're born with it, and it's incurable but manageable, but still, you are aware of this. And if you, your spouse, your partner, or whatever the case may be, if you know that you have this incurable disease, manageable or whatever the case may be, and you did not inform that person, then yes, this would apply to you. But again, I'm not referring to those who are born with it. You know, because this may take years, right?' said Moore the night before the hearing.
Carroll said a significant concern is how one proves they disclosed their STD to their partner.
'Let's say someone who let's say I was having sex with someone, and they knew their status, they told me they were living with HPV, and I had no clue that I was already living with HPV. So there's a chance that I could have acquired that from a previous relationship. But because I hadn't been tested quite yet, I could assume that I had transmitted that infection from my partner. And even if my partner discloses that to me, let's say we don't have it written down or there's no witness, it would be very difficult to prove that my partner had disclosed that to me, and I had agreed and consented to that interaction,' says Carroll.
La. Treasurer John Fleming on U.S. Senate run, insurance reform, state pension funds, and school choice
In the proposed substitute bill, Representative Moore underscores 'not just exposing but infecting,' which would include survivors of sexual abuse.
'That they're they're going to have to be accountable to. So you have an incurable disease. You're now in the same boat as the offender,' says Moore, 'You've got to inform because, you know, so you've got to make sure your partner or whoever is aware of your situation.'
Carroll said she is concerned this bill will encourage people not to get tested for STDs, as it only affects those who knowingly infect others.
'There was another woman who gave a testimony and said that she had disclosed her status to her husband when she was living with HIV, and he threatened to harm her had she or if she had decided to leave or he threatened to continue to harm her if she decided to leave, and if she did leave, then she had to prove that she had disclosed her status to him,' said Carroll.
She reiterates that choosing to disclose one's STD status is a private and personal conversation, but believes accountability is essential, and it starts with 'strengthening the way that we protect victims and survivors of sexual abuse and assault.'
'So, I believe that we have the same intentions. And I mean, intention is the word of the day, I guess. And so I believe that we all want justice,' says Carroll, 'That was something that was constantly said in the courtroom, when I was there, was that these survivors deserve justice in that we deserve justice, and I agree. But I think, as the Criminal Justice Committee, it is their responsibility to think critically about what justice means and what that looks like. And that doesn't necessarily always mean sending people to prison, or punishing them.'
The bill proposes that those who intentionally expose victims under the age of 18 years, and over the age of 65, 'shall be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than ten nor more than 25 years, or both.'
During the Administration of Criminal Justice hearing, on May 28th, the proposed bill received seven ayes and five nays, moving it forward, pending floor debate on Monday, June 2, 2025.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Appeals court throws out Trump's $454 million civil fraud judgment
Appeals court throws out Trump's $454 million civil fraud judgment

Yahoo

time16 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Appeals court throws out Trump's $454 million civil fraud judgment

A New York appeals court has thrown out the half billion-dollar civil fraud judgment handed down last year against President Donald Trump, his family and his company. The Appellate Division's First Department upheld last year's ruling finding Trump, his eldest sons and his business liable for a decade's worth of business fraud. The appellate court, however, found the penalty of $454 million to be an excessive fine at odds with the Eighth Amendment. "The documentary evidence supports Supreme Court's conclusion that the Attorney General made a prima facie showing that each defendant participated in the fraudulent scheme," the opinion said. "The trial record is also replete with evidence supporting the court's determination that the individual defendants had the requisite intent to defraud, a necessary element of each Penal Law claim." MORE: Trump civil fraud case: Judge fines Trump $354 million, says frauds 'shock the conscience' However, said the opinion, "while harm certainly occurred, it was not the cataclysmic harm that can justify a nearly half billion-dollar award to the State." The decision allows either side to pursue an appeal to the state's highest court, the New York Court of Appeals. "Today's ruling by the New York appeals court is a resounding victory for President Trump and his company," said Trump's former personal attorney Alina Habba, who helped represent Trump in the case and was later named interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey. "The court struck down the outrageous and unlawful $464 million penalty, confirming what we have said from the beginning: the Attorney General's case was politically motivated, legally baseless, and grossly excessive." After a three-month civil trial last year, New York Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump liable for committing a decade of business fraud by inflating his net worth to secure better business deals. In his written decision, Engoron said that Trump and his co-defendants engaged in frauds that "leap off the page and shock the conscience" including wrongly claiming that Trump's penthouse was three times its actual size and valuing his Mar-a-Lago estate as a personal residence, rather than a social club. "Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological. They are accused only of inflating asset values to make more money. The documents prove this over and over again," Engoron wrote, claiming that Trump and his co-defendants were "incapable of admitting the error of their ways." The former president has long criticized the case as politically motivated, including during an impromptu closing statement he delivered in court last year where he declared himself an "innocent man." "I've been persecuted by someone running for office," Trump said, referring to New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case. "This statute is vicious. It doesn't give me a jury. It takes away my rights." In his February decision, Engoron temporarily barred Trump and his sons from leading New York-based companies and ordered Trump to pay a fine of more than $454 million. That number increased to around half a billion dollars based on interest accrued on the judgement. Trump has denied wrongdoing and argued that the alleged victims in the case were sophisticated counterparties who eagerly agreed to go into business with the Trump Organization and profited from the deals. Those arguments formed the crux of his appeal, filed in July, in which his lawyers argued that James violated the statute of limitations, misapplied the relevant law, and encouraged an exclusive penalty. MORE: Trump civil fraud case: Judge fines Trump $354 million, says frauds 'shock the conscience' During a hearing in September, several of the judges on the appellate panel appeared receptive to Trump's arguments seeking to reverse or reduce the his penalty, questioning the size of the massive judgment and the application of the fraud statute used to bring the case. Since Trump's reelection win in November, his lawyers have implored James to drop the case, citing the dismissal of Trump's federal criminal cases. Lawyers for James have rejected the request, arguing that Trump's return to the White House does not impact his civil cases. "The ordinary burdens of civil litigation do not impede the President's official duties in a way that violates the U.S. Constitution," New York Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale wrote in a letter to Trump's lawyer. Trump owed more than $550 million between three civil judgments, including a $83.3 million judgment in damages for defaming former Elle magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll and a $5 million judgment awarded after a jury found he sexually abused Carol in the 1990s. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

N.J. police shooting of 68-year-old woman with disability sparks community outrage and is met with little details
N.J. police shooting of 68-year-old woman with disability sparks community outrage and is met with little details

Yahoo

time16 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

N.J. police shooting of 68-year-old woman with disability sparks community outrage and is met with little details

New Brunswick and state officials are facing heated questions from residents and family members about transparency and accountability after a 68-year-old woman was shot and killed by police earlier this month. Deborah Terrell was killed by New Brunswick police on Aug. 8 when they responded to a 911 call that a resident was walking around with a knife. Terrell was known by community members to have a mental disability, and they're asking why weren't mental health providers sent to co-respond with the police. The Attorney General's office, which investigates all police-involved shootings, said the police officers first communicated with Terrell through the closed door. Then, she came into the hallway with a knife. Police then used pepper spray and a taser, and then one officer shot her. The Attorney General's office said the officers provided first aid and took her to a nearby hospital where she pronounced dead. However, bystander video shows how quickly the encounter happened and few chaotic seconds in which one of the officers trips and falls into the other cops. The video raised questions among some community members about whether this commotion, rather than Terrell's actions, prompted officers to pepper spray, tase, and shoot her. WARNING: This video includes scenes of fatal violence. 'You call the cops to help you out and then there's a problem,' said Linda McCalla, Terrell's sister. Community members packed New Brunswick city hall Thursday with signs and pictures, as they asked local officials during the public comment portion of the meeting to release more info. The New Jersey Attorney General's declined to give a recent update. Sources close to the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the investigation was 'substantially completed' and that additional details and body camera footage would be released. Hours before the gathering, Assemblyman Joe Danielsen, D-Middlesex, released a statement on social media saying he was taken aback by the shooting. 'Like many, I was shocked to learn her life ended during a police-involved shooting in New Brunswick,' Danielsen said. 'Deborah Terrell was a lifelong resident of New Brunswick, a mother and a sister. I can't begin to imagine the pain Ms. Terrell's family and friends are feeling right now.' Residents had a right to answers, Danielsen said. 'I strongly believe the law and justice demand that the process be allowed to run its full course before we come to any conclusions,' he said. 'I also suggest that our community continue to demand answers using a thorough process and without unnecessary delays.' To better assist police officers who respond to mental health calls, New Jersey launched the ARRIVE Together program in 2021 and it has since been made available in more than 200 towns. The program pairs a crisis intervention trained officer with a crisis screener to provide on-scene assistance to those experiencing a mental health or behavioral health emergency. The program is meant to reduce the use of force in encounters between law enforcement and people with mental illness or substance use disorder. The Attorney General's office and city officials would not say whether or not a request for mental health professionals was put in, but a representative for the ARRIVE Together of Middlesex County did say the program responds in New Brunswick. Zayid Muhammad, an activist with New Jersey Communities for Accountable Policing asked why the program wasn't used in this instance. 'Why can't four professionally trained armed men detain a 120 pound 68-year-old woman without killing her? Why wasn't Attorney General [Matthew] Platkin's highly touted ARRIVE Together unit available, and why hasn't Middlesex County put in and made an effort to build out a community-led crisis response team after being designated a county able to develop such a pilot?' The meeting started with council members giving condolences for the killing. Those in attendance found little consolation in the words. Some constituents asked the council why police and mayoral leadership was absent from the room. 'I don't know,' replied city council president John Anderson. The exchange was one of many heated interactions with constituents that defined the night. The council meeting was switched from City Hall to a municipal court venue, where increased security and a metal detector was present, a detail that wasn't lost on residents as they criticized the council in unison. During the public meeting, some went inside and continued to protest outside, with some expressing anger at not being let in and given the chance to speak. Chants of 'ask them' echoed in the public meeting chambers when city council members mentioned the shooting was being investigated by the state. 'It's out of local hands,' said city council president John Anderson. Two council members, Petra Gaskins and Glenn Fleming, agreed to a resolution asking the Attorney General's office to release the videos and names of the police officers involved, but Anderson declined to take it up – even after other council members agreed to do so. The city attorney, T.K. Shamy, interrupted the attempt and asserted that the resolution could not compel the state to release evidence. Dupre McCalla, Terrell's nephew, said during the public comment session that he was distraught by the news of the shooting. 'My aunt, she had disabilities, but you can't spell the word disability without the word ability, and my aunt had great abilities,' he said. Minister Archange Antoine of the Clergy Coalition for Liberation called for the city to set up a fund to pay for the funeral expenses for the families of those killed by the police. Linda McCalla, Terrell's sister, said the city and the state's response left her and other family members in the dark. 'It's hard,' she said. 'It's just hard.' Jelani Gibson may be reached at jgibson@

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano uses cell phone to coach team after red-card ejection
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano uses cell phone to coach team after red-card ejection

Yahoo

time16 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano uses cell phone to coach team after red-card ejection

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano was ejected from the team's 2-1 win over Tigres UANL on Wednesday, but still played a major role in leading the team to victory. After being sent off following the first half, Mascherano was caught in the stands using a cell phone to continue coaching the team in the second half. In incident was captured on camera during the broadcast. Mascherano was shown on his phone speaking animatedly and gesturing toward the field. When the announcers questioned who was on the other end of the call, the broadcast cut to an Inter Miami assistant holding a phone and speaking into it. Upon first glance, fans might assume Mascherano was in violation of a number of rules with his antics. In other sports, ejected managers are not allowed to relay strategy to their teams once they are thrown out of a game. Former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine famously put that to the test when he tried to return to the dugout and manage the club while wearing a fake mustache. Valentine didn't get away with it for long. He was eventually discovered, received a two-game suspension and was fined $5,000. The tactic might have cost him some money, but it was a small price to pay for being a part of one of baseball's silliest stories. Don't expect Mascherano to face similar discipline, however, as it appears his antics were fully within the rules. A Leagues Cup spokesperson told The Athletic that Mascherano was in a spot where cellphone communication was "not prohibited." 'The Inter Miami head coach was located in a space designated according to tournament regulations. Cellphone communications are not prohibited per Leagues Cup regulations in this instance.' The International Football Association Board (IFAB) rulebook agrees with that statement. The issue is covered in the Rule 4.4 Other Equipment section of the organization's "Laws of the Game" document. A portion of that rule states: "The use of any form of electronic communication by team officials is permitted where it directly relates to player welfare or safety or for tactical/coaching reasons but only small, mobile, handheld equipment (e.g. microphone, headphone, earpiece, mobile phone/smartphone, smartwatch, tablet, laptop) may be used." Mascherano was using a mobile phone for "tactical/coaching reasons," and was apparently in an area where mobile phone use was allowed, so it doesn't appear he'll face any punishment for his actions. His actions will be reviewed by the Leagues Cup Disciplinary Committee, however, so it's possible that changes in the coming days.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store