The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.
DIGEST
SB 429 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Barrow
Present law provides that membership of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners shall
include seven voting members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate to include:
(1)Four members from a list of names submitted by the Louisiana State Medical Society. One
of the members from a parish or municipality with less than twenty thousand people.
(2)Two members submitted by the Louisiana Medical Association.
(3)One member submitted from the Louisiana Academy of Family Practice Physicians.
Present law provides that all voting members of the board must be graduate physicians or surgeons
and practitioners.
Present law provides for the mechanism to fill vacancies and for removal of members and for terms
of appointment.
Proposed law provides that the board shall have seven members comprised of 6 physicians, one
from each of the six congressional districts as established by the 2010 federal decennial census and
one consumer. The new members will be phased in as the existing membership terms expire.
Proposed law provides the following specific qualifications for physicians to be eligible for
appointment:
(1)Be a resident of this state for not less than six months.
(2)Be currently licensed and in good standing to engage in the practice of medicine in this state.
(3)Be actively engaged in the practice of medicine in this state.
(4)Have five years of experience in the practice of medicine in this state after licensure.
(5)Shall not have been convicted of a felony.
(6)Shall not have been placed on probation by the board.
Proposed law provides for procedure for appointment, filling of vacancies, removal and duration of
terms. Effective August 1, 2016.
(Amends R.S. 37:1263; repeals R.S. 37:1264 and 1265)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill
1. Changes board membership from seventeen members based on physician districts to
seven members to include one from each of the six congressional districts based on
the 2010 federal decennial census and one consumer representative.
2. Establishes a phase-in implementation to membership by congressional district to
replace existing board members as their current terms expire.