HLS 18RS-717 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 198
BY REPRESENTATIVE SIMON
FUNDS/FUNDING: Provides relative to distribution of funding from the Traumatic Head
and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 46:2635(A), relative to the Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord
3 Injury Trust Fund; to provide for the distribution of funding; to ensure that the fund
4 is used as a funding source of last resort; to specify that Medicare and Medicaid
5 sources shall be expended before using monies in the fund; and to provide for related
6 matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 46:2635(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 ยง2635. Expenditures
10 A. Except as provided in R.S. 46:2633(D)(2), money in the trust fund shall
11 be distributed for the sole purpose of funding the cost of care or supportive services
12 for traumatic head and spinal cord injury, including the administrative costs
13 attributable to services provided by the trust fund program. The fund shall be
14 considered as a source of last resort after private and governmental Medicare and
15 Medicaid sources have been expended for Louisiana citizens.
16 * * *
17 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
18signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
19by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 18RS-717 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 198
1vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
2effective on the day following such approval.
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)]
HB 198 Original 2018 Regular Session Simon
Abstract: Requires that the Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund is used as
a fund of last resort following the exhaustion of Medicare and Medicaid funding.
Present law establishes the Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund to provide
citizens who survive traumatic head or spinal cord injuries a source of funds for services
enabling them to return to a reasonable level of functioning and independent living.
Present law provides that money in the fund be distributed as a source of last resort after the
use of all available private and governmental funds.
Proposed law retains present law provision that requires the fund be used as a fund of last
resort but deletes reference to private and governmental funds to specify that the fund shall
be used after Medicare and Medicaid sources have been exhausted.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 46:2635(A))
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.