HB 455 — EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Provides relative to the definition of "first responder"

HLS 26RS-1000 ORIGINALENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.

to provide for the duties of a public worksemployeeas afirstresponder;to provideprovideforlimitations forlimitationsonthe ontheuseofapublicuse ofapublic works employee during an emergency;

29:723 including but not limitedtomedicalpersonnel,emergencyandmedicaltechnicians,volunteerfiremen, auxiliary law enforcement officers, state agency essential workers, emergency service dispatchers, emergency response operators, electrical linemen and public Page 1 of 4 CODING:

HLS 26RS-1000 ORIGINALENGROSSED HB NO.

455 auxiliary law enforcement officers, state agency essential workers, emergency service dispatchers, emergency response operators, electrical linemen and public works first responders as defined by R.S.

(3) The designation of public works employees as first responders pursuant to this Section is for emergencyoperations, coordination, and recognition purposes only.

HLS 26RS-1000 ORIGINALENGROSSED HB NO.

455 (4)(3) NothingThe indesignation of public works employees as first responders pursuant to this Section shallis befor construedemergencyoperations, to:coordination, and recognition purposes only.

(4) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to:

ItItconstitutes constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 455 OriginalEngrossed 2026 Regular Session Carver Abstract:

Presentlawprovidesthat"firstresponder"referstothoseindividualswhointheearlystages ofanincidentareresponsiblefortheprotectionofanincidentareresponsiblefortheprotectionand and preservationof life, property,evidence,property, andtheevidence, environment,and astheenvironment,aswellasemergencymanagement, wellpublic ashealth, emergencymanagement,publichealth,clinicalcare,publicclinical care,public works, and other skilled support personnel, such as equipment operators that provide immediatesupportservicesduringprevention,response,andrecoveryoperationsconsistent with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8.

Proposed law defines "public works first responder" as a state, parish, or municipal employee whose primary duties include public infrastructure operations, maintenance, or repair, who is required to perform emergency response functions during a declared emergency or disaster.

HLS 26RS-1000 ORIGINALENGROSSED HB NO.

455 ProposedlawprovidesthatapublicworksfirstresponderwillbeconsideredfirstrespondersProposed onlyduringweatheremergenciesasdeclaredbythegovernorpursuanttoR.S.29:721etseq.law defines "public works first responder" as a state, parish, or municipal employee whose primary duties include public infrastructure operations, maintenance, or repair, who is required to perform emergency response functions during a declared emergency or disaster.

FurtherprovidesthatnothinginProposedlawprovidesthatapublicworksfirstresponderwillbeconsideredfirstresponders proposedlawalterstheemployee'seligibilityforretirementonlyduringweatheremergenciesasdeclaredbythegovernorpursuanttoR.S.29:721etseq. systems or retirement benefits;

Furtherprovidesthatnothinginproposedlawalterstheemployee'seligibilityforretirement systems or retirement benefits;