2018 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 112
BY SENATOR LUNEAU
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To create and provide for the Pinecrest Workplace Violence and Employee Injury Task
Force to study the problems relative to workplace violence and employee injury at
Pinecrest Supports and Services Center and to recommend any action or legislation
that the task force deems necessary and appropriate.
WHEREAS, the Pinecrest Supports and Services Center in Pineville, Louisiana, is
a medical facility operated within the Louisiana Department of Health whose mission is to
support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach treatment goals and
to return to more integrated community living settings; Pinecrest Supports and Services
Center specializes in the treatment of people with comorbid intellectual and developmental
disabilities and complex medical, behavioral, and psychiatric support needs; and
WHEREAS, from February 2016 through February 2017, the staff of Pinecrest
Supports and Services Center reported five hundred twenty-four incidents of employee
injuries, including one hundred and ninety-six staff members being punched, sixty-five staff
members scratched, and fifty-seven percent of the assaults required the injured employees
to seek medical treatment; and
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana incidents' rate of occupational injuries and
illnesses in hospitals was approximately 5.2 injuries for every ten thousand workers and
Louisiana's private industry rate of occupational injuries was approximately 4.4 injuries for
every ten thousand workers during the year 2016; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, eighteen Louisiana workers were victims of workplace
violence that resulted in fatal injuries; and
WHEREAS, workplace violence was the second most reported source of fatal
injuries in the workplace in the year 2016; and
Page 1 of 3 SCR NO. 112 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, occupational injuries, due to violent and nonviolent events, results in
an undue economic burden on employees, employers, and taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, it is urgent that the state of Louisiana take action to end workplace
violence at Pinecrest Supports and Services Center and make efforts to control hazardous
conditions.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
create the Pinecrest Workplace Violence and Employee Injury Task Force to study the
problems relative to workplace violence and employee injury at Pinecrest Supports and
Services Center and to recommend any action or legislation that the task force deems
necessary and appropriate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force created herein shall consist of the
following six members:
(1) The chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, or another member
of the committee designated by the chair.
(2) The chair of the House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations, or another
member of the committee designated by the chair.
(3) The secretary of the Department of Health, or his designee.
(4)The secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, or his designee.
(5) The attorney general, or his designee.
(6) The executive director of the American Federation of State, County, and
Municipal Employees Council Seventeen, or his designee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in conducting the study, the task force shall
study current law, regulations, policies, and efforts at Pinecrest Supports and Services Center
to prevent workplace violence and employee injury.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
without compensation, except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be
individually entitled as members of the constituent organizations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the total membership shall
constitute a quorum of the task force, and any official action taken by the task force shall
require an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum present and voting.
Page 2 of 3 SCR NO. 112 ENROLLED
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may conduct such meetings at
such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and
effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this
Resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall make a report of its findings
and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, to the legislature
no later than sixty days prior to the convening of the 2019 Regular Session.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall terminate on March 8, 2019.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Page 3 of 3