§678. Unlawful acts

A. It is unlawful for any person, entity, or group, to whom the secretary has not issued a permit, to knowingly:

(1) Disturb an unmarked burial site or any human skeletal remains or burial artifacts in an unmarked burial site.

(2) Buy, sell, barter, exchange, give, receive, possess, display, discard, or destroy human skeletal remains from an unmarked burial site or burial artifacts. However, any human skeletal remains or burial artifacts from an unmarked burial site which come into Louisiana from any foreign country or any other state or territory of the United States and are documented to have been obtained lawfully under the laws of the respective country, state, or territory may be given, received, studied, or displayed without violating this Chapter.

(a) Any human remains which were lawfully acquired prior to January 1, 1992, may remain in the possession of the current holder.

(b) Any burial artifacts which were lawfully acquired prior to January 1, 1992, may remain in the possession of and be displayed by the current holder.

(3) Allow any person, entity, or group access to an unmarked burial site, human skeletal remains, or burial artifacts for the purpose of disturbing them.

(4) Provide funds to or for any person, entity, or group for the purpose of disturbing any unmarked burial site, human skeletal remains, or burial artifacts.

B. Each violation of this Section shall be punishable upon conviction of a first offense by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Upon conviction of a second or subsequent offense each violation shall be punishable by imprisonment for not more than two years or a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars, or both. Each disturbance of an unmarked burial site, human skeletal remains, or burial artifacts constitutes a separate offense.

Acts 1991, No. 704, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2009, No. 438, §6A.