The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Julie J. Baxter.
DIGEST
Nevers (SB 539)
Proposed law provides that suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and management training
shall be included within the existing continuing education requirements for certain professionals
licensed in Louisiana.
Proposed law provides that, beginning January 1, 2015, each of the following professionals
certified or licensed in Louisiana shall, at least once every six years, complete training in suicide
assessment, intervention, treatment, and management that is approved, in rule, by the relevant
disciplining authority, as defined in R.S. 37:27(A):
(1)A mental health counselor certified or licensed under R.S. 37:1101, et seq.
(2)A social worker certified or licensed under R.S. 37:2701, et seq.
(3)A physician certified or licensed under R.S. 37:1261, et seq.
(4)A psychiatrist certified or licensed under R.S. 37:1261, et seq.
(5)A psychologist certified or licensed under R.S. 37:2351, et seq.
(6)A medical psychologist certified or licensed under R.S. 37:1360.51, et seq.
(7)A nurse certified or licensed under R.S. 37:911, et seq.
(8)A physician assistant certified or licensed under R.S. 37:1360.21, et seq.
(9)An addiction counselor certified or licensed under R.S. 37:3386, et seq.
Proposed law provides that the requirements in proposed law shall apply to any person holding
an active license or certification in one of the professions listed in proposed law.
Proposed law provides that the training in suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and
management required in proposed law must be at least six hours in length at least once every six
years. Proposed law provides that the training may be obtained in either one single six-hour
block or may be spread among shorter training sessions, so long as each licensed professional
receives the minimum six hours of training every six years required under proposed law.
Proposed law provides that, except as provided in proposed law, a professional listed in proposed
law must complete the first training during the first full continuing education reporting period after January 1, 2015, or the first full continuing education reporting period after initial licensure
or certification, whichever occurs later.
Proposed law provides that a professional listed in proposed law applying for initial licensure on
or after January 1, 2015, may delay completion of the first training required under proposed law
for six years after initial licensure if the professional can demonstrate successful completion of
the training required in proposed law no more than six years prior to the application for initial
licensure.
Proposed law provides that the hours spent completing training in suicide assessment,
intervention, treatment, and management under proposed law are not in addition to, but shall
count toward, meeting any applicable continuing education or continuing competency
requirements for each profession.
Proposed law provides that the implementation of training required under proposed law shall not
be construed to establish a legal basis for negligence or the standard of care or duty of care owed
by a health care professional to a patient in any civil action for medical malpractice.
Proposed law provides that the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals and the
disciplining authorities shall work collaboratively to develop a model list of training programs in
suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and management. Further provides that when
developing the model list, the secretary and the disciplining authorities shall:
(1)Consider suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and management training programs
of at least six hours in length listed on the best practices registry of the American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center; and
(2)Consult with public and private institutions of higher education, experts in suicide
assessment, intervention, treatment, and management, and affected professional
associations.
Proposed law provides that the secretary and disciplining authorities shall report the model list of
training programs to the Louisiana legislature's House and Senate committees on health and
welfare no later than December 15, 2014.
Proposed law further provides that proposed law may be interpreted to expand or limit the scope
of practice of any profession regulated under Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
Proposed law provides that the secretary and the disciplining authorities affected by proposed law
shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the training requirements of proposed law.
Proposed law provides for the following definitions:
(1)"Disciplining authority" means the specific professional licensing or certifying board that
is referenced by statute in R.S. 37:24(A) as certifying or licensing each profession included in the training requirements of proposed law.
(2)"Training in suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and management" means
empirically supported training approved by the appropriate disciplining authority that
contains the following elements: suicide assessment, including screening and referral,
suicide intervention, suicide treatment, and suicide management.
Proposed law provides that a state or local government employee is exempt from the training
requirements of R.S. 37:24 if that employee receives a total of at least six hours of training in
suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and management from that employee's employer
every six years.
Effective August 1, 2014.
(Adds R.S. 37:24-27)