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 645 Original 2018 Regular Session Zeringue
Abstract: Amends the powers and duties of GOHSEP and the UCG, creates a Disaster Cemetery
Response Task Force, and extends limitations of liability and immunity for certain disaster-
related activities.
Present law provides for the powers and duties of the director of the Governor's Office of Homeland
Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), including the duty to coordinate the activities of
all agencies and organizations for purposes of homeland security and emergency preparedness.
Proposed law retains present law and requires the director to coordinate public-private sector
relationships to meet the needs of an emergency or disaster, and to coordinate the implementation
of the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Compact.
Present law provides for the office of interoperability within GOHSEP and provides for the authority
of the office in managing interoperability programs and efforts identified in the (1) statewide
interoperability plan and (2) statewide communications interoperability plan for first responders.
Further requires the Unified Command Group (UCG) to establish a comprehensive statewide
interoperability plan for short-term and long-term initiatives.
Proposed law consolidates the two plans referenced in present law, to be referred to as the statewide
communications interoperability plan.
Present law requires the UCG to provide semiannual reports to the governor and entities in the
statewide plan.
Proposed law changes the present law reporting requirement from a semiannual report to an annual
report.
Present law provides for three permanent subcommittees of the UCG.
Proposed law amends the membership of the first responders subcommittee and adds a fourth
subcommittee (the long term recovery subcommittee), and provides for its membership and duties.
Proposed law creates a Disaster Cemetery Response Task Force and provides for its membership,
powers, and duties.
Present law provides for powers of parish presidents in disasters or emergencies. Provides for the declaration of a state of emergency by a parish president and provides that they may be terminated
by executive order or proclamation for a period of time not to exceed 30 days unless extended by the
parish president.
Proposed law retains present law but removes the 30-day limitation.
Present law provides for limitations of liability for certain employees and agents of the state or
political subdivisions in homeland security and emergency preparedness activities, except in the case
of willful misconduct.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that GOHSEP, each parish homeland security and
emergency preparedness agency, the state, political subdivisions of the state, and other agencies
engaged in homeland security, emergency preparedness, response and recovery activities shall also
be immune from claims based on the exercise or performance of, of the failure to exercise or
perform, certain homeland security and emergency preparedness activities.
(Amends R.S. 29:725(H), 725.4, 725.5(C)(3), 725.6(B)(3), (5)(b) and (c), (6)(intro. para.), (b)(ii)(cc)
and (iii), and (c)(ii)(cc) and (7), 726(E)(9), 727(D), and 735(A)(1); Adds R.S. 9:2793.10 and R.S.
29:725.6(B)(6)(b)(i)(hh) and (d), 726(B)(16) and (E)(27), (28), and (29), 726.4, and 735(A)(3);
Repeals R.S. 29:725.6(B)(6)(a)(ii)(ff))