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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
SENATE BILL NO. 538
BY SENATOR JOHN SMITH
MILITARY AFFAIRS. Establishes the Military Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit
Registry. (8/1/14)
AN ACT1
To enact Part III-B of Chapter 2 of Title 29 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be2
comprised of R.S. 29:330, relative to the Military Airborne Hazards and Open Burn3
Pit Registry; to provide for the duties and powers of the secretary of the Department4
of Veterans Affairs; to provide terms, conditions and requirements; and to provide5
for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. Part III-B of Chapter 2 of Title 29 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of8
1950, comprised of R.S. 29:330 is hereby enacted to read as follows:9
PART III- B MILITARY AIRBORNE HAZARDS AND OPEN BURN PIT10
REGISTRY11
§330. Military Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry; creation; duties12
and powers13
For the purposes of outreach, education, and advocacy for Louisiana14
service members and veterans who have been exposed to open burn pit smoke15
or other airborne hazards during their service in Operation Iraqi Freedom,16
Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn, the Gulf War 1990-1991,17 SB NO. 538
SLS 14RS-677 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
or other conflicts or theaters which may subsequently be identified, the1
secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall:2
(1) Monitor the most current published epidemiological studies and3
recommendations arising as a requirement of 38 U.S.C. 527, as well as any4
developments in the study and treatment of conditions associated with exposure5
to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits.6
(2) Create a database of self-identifying service members and veterans7
who have been exposed to burn pits, which shall include the name, address,8
electronic address, phone number, location and period of service, and any other9
information as deemed necessary by the secretary of the Department of10
Veterans Affairs.11
(3) Establish and maintain a public information program in order to12
educate and inform service members, veterans and their families regarding:13
(a) The most recent scientific developments on the health effects of14
exposure to open burn pit smoke or other airborne hazards.15
(b) Availability of possible treatments for their conditions.16
(c) Applying for service-connected disability compensation for any17
possible illnesses or conditions related to exposure to open burn pit smoke or18
other airborne hazards, including the current status on related presumptive19
conditions or diseases as designated by the United States Department of20
Veterans Affairs.21
(d) Appealing an existing disability rating decision or requesting an22
upgrade in disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans23
Affairs.24
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Heyward Jeffers.
DIGEST
John Smith (SB 538)
Proposed law establishes the Military Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry.
Proposed law establishes the areas of service eligibility as the Gulf War of 1990-1991, SB NO. 538
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn, or other
conflicts or theaters of war which may subsequently be identified.
Proposed law provides that the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs will monitor
the most current published epidemiological studies and recommendations arising as a
requirement of 38 U.S.C. 527, and any developments in the study and treatment of
conditions associated with exposure to airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn
pits.
Proposed law provides that the secretary will create a database of service members and
veterans who have been exposed to burn pits, including the name, address, electronic
address, phone number, location and the period of service, and any other information
deemed necessary by the secretary.
Proposed law requires the secretary to establish and maintain a public information program
in order to educate and inform service members, veterans and their families regarding:
1. The most recent scientific developments on the effects of exposure to open burn pit
smoke or other airborne hazards.
2. Availability of possible treatments for their conditions.
3. Applying for service-connected disability compensation.
4. Appealing an existing disability rating decision or requesting an upgrade in disability
rating from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Effective August 1, 2014.
(Adds R.S. 29:330)