SB 164 — EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Provides relative to first responders. (gov sig)

SLS 26RS-307 ENGROSSED Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO.

164 BY SENATOR MCMATH EMERGENCYAND PREPAREDNESS.REPRESENTATIVE CARVER AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.

Provides relative to first responders.

(gov sig) AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.

29:723 including but not limitedtomedicalpersonnel,emergencyandmedicaltechnicians,volunteerfiremen, auxiliary law enforcement officers, state agency essential workers, emergency service dispatchers, emergencyresponse operators, electrical linemen as defined by PageR.S. 1 of 3 Coding:

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SLS 26RS-307 ENGROSSED SB NO.

164 R.S.

§723.Page 1 of 3 Coding:

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SB NO.

164 ENROLLED §723.

* * * PageSection3. 2 of 3 Coding:

WordsThis whichActshall arebe struckknown throughas areand deletionsmaybe fromcited existingas law;the "ShelbyLaSalle Act".

wordsSection in4. boldface type and underscored are additions.

SLS 26RS-307 ENGROSSED SB NO.

164 Section 3.

Section 4.5.

This Act shall become effective upon signature bythe governor or, if not signedbythegovernor,uponexpirationofthetimeforbillstobecomelawwithoutsignature byPage the2 governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the3 ConstitutionCoding: of Louisiana.

IfWords vetoedwhich bytheare governorandstruck subsequentlyapprovedthrough bytheare legislature,deletions thisfrom Actexisting shalllaw; become effective on the dayfollowing such approval.

Thewords originalin instrumentboldface type and theunderscored followingare digest,additions. which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared bySenate Legislative Services.

TheSB keyword,NO. summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.164 ENROLLED by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana.

1:13(B)If andvetoed 24:177(E)]bythe DIGESTgovernorand SBsubsequentlyapprovedbythe 164legislature, Engrossedthis 2026Act Regularshall Sessionbecome McMatheffective Presenton lawthe withdayfollowing regardsuch toapproval. the La.

HomelandPRESIDENT SecurityOF andTHE EmergencySENATE AssistanceSPEAKER andOF DisasterTHE Act,HOUSE definesOF "firstREPRESENTATIVES responder"GOVERNOR asOF aTHE volunteerSTATE engagedOF inLOUISIANA activitiesAPPROVED: involving the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness pursuant to R.S.

29:721Page et3 seq.,of and3 firstCoding: responders as defined in R.S.

29:723, including medical personnel, emergencyand medical technicians, volunteer firemen, auxiliarylaw enforcement officers, state agency essential workers, emergency service dispatchers, emergency response operators, and members of the Civil Air Patrol.

Presentlawprovidesthat"firstresponder"referstothoseindividualswhointheearlystages ofanincidentareresponsiblefor the protection and preservationoflife,property,evidence, and the environment, aswellasemergencymanagement,publichealth, clinical 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 adds public works employees to the definition of "first responder".

Proposed law defines "public works employee" as an employee of a municipal or parish public works department who is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of municipal or parish infrastructure.

Proposedlawprovidesthatpublicworksemployeesshallbeconsideredfirstrespondersonly during emergencies as declared bythe governor pursuant to R.S.

29:721 et seq.

Proposed law provides that the term "first responder" may be displayed on the uniform of a public works employee.

Proposed law includes public works employees as other skilled support personnel for purposes of the Intrastate Mutual Aid Compact.

Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

(Amends R.S.

23:1017.1(6) and R.S.

29:739(C);