RDCSB539 2709 5643
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Nevers SB No. 539
Proposed law provides that suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and management
training may be included within the existing continuing education requirements for certain
professionals licensed in Louisiana.
Proposed law provides that, beginning January 1, 2015, the Department of Health and
Hospitals (DHH) shall offer each of the following professional certified, licensed, or
registered in Louisiana access to a list of certain training programs in suicide assessment,
intervention, treatment, and management through posting links to such training on the
department's official website:
(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 psychiatrist and any other physician certified or licensed under R.S. 37:1261 et
seq.
(4)A psychologist certified or licensed under R.S. 37:2351 et seq.
(5)A medical psychologist certified or licensed under R.S. 37:1360.51 et seq.
(6)A nurse certified or licensed under R.S. 37:911 et seq.
(7)A physician assistant certified or licensed under R.S. 37:1360.21 et seq.
(8)An addiction counselor certified or licensed under R.S. 37:3386 et seq.
Proposed law provides that the training programs and corresponding links included in the
online list by DHH pursuant to proposed law may be offered in either continuous multi-hour
blocks or spread over shorter training sessions.
Proposed law provides that the boards which regulate the professions listed in proposed law,
at each board's discretion, may approve the hours spent completing training in suicide
assessment, intervention, treatment, and management under the proposed law as hours that
may count toward meeting any applicable continuing education or continuing competency
requirements for each profession.
Proposed law provides that obtaining training listed or linked via the DHH website pursuant
to 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 stipulates that DHH shall be immune from civil liability for the development
and posting of a list of programs providing training in suicide assessment, intervention,
treatment, and management as provided for in proposed law.
Proposed law requires that the secretary of DHH to develop a list of available programs
providing training in suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and management. In
developing such a list, the secretary shall consider suicide assessment, intervention,
treatment, and management training programs listed on the best practices registry of the
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. RDCSB539 2709 5643
Proposed law requires that on or before January 1, 2015, the secretary shall make available
on the department's official website online access to its developed list under proposed law
and, where possible, links to training programs on the department's list.
Proposed law provides that nothing therein may be interpreted to expand or limit the scope
of practice of any profession regulated under present law, or be construed to require DHH
to develop training programs or curriculums or to create online training programs.
Effective August 1, 2014.
(Adds R.S. 37:24-27)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill
1. Changes from mandatory continuing education or continuing competency
training in suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and management for
certain health care professionals to beginning January 1, 2015, the
Department of Health and Hospitals shall offer certain health care
professionals voluntary training in suicide assessment, intervention,
treatment, and management through posting links to such training on the
department's official website.
Senate Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill
1. Makes technical changes.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to the
reengrossed bill.
1. Added provision stipulating that the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH)
shall be immune from civil liability for the development and posting of a list of
programs providing training in suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and
management as provided in proposed law.
2. Added provision stipulating that nothing in proposed law shall be construed to
require DHH to develop training programs or curriculums or to create online
training programs.
3. Made technical changes.