2018 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 161
BY SENATOR CARTER
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health, bureau of emergency medical
services, to convene a working group to study the delivery of 911 emergency
medical services throughout the state and report findings and recommendations
regarding 911 emergency call takers to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare
on or before February 1, 2019.
WHEREAS, emergency medical services represent the combined efforts of several
professionals and agencies to provide pre-hospital emergency care to the sick and injured;
and
WHEREAS, emergency medical services constitute the difference between life and
death for thousands of Louisiana citizens each day; and
WHEREAS, an individual's entry into the emergency medical services system is
most often through placement of a 911 emergency call; and
WHEREAS, 911 created the need for fire, police, and medical emergency responders
to function with a degree of uniformity that was not previously in existence; and
WHEREAS, 911 in Louisiana is a parish-based system in which all serve a similar
purpose, but no two systems are identical; and
WHEREAS, when a person dials 911, the call is routed to a pre-determined location
and answered by a call taker who determines the nature of the emergency and either handles
the request himself or routes it to the appropriate public safety agency; and
WHEREAS, who performs the call-taker function and what happens after they
initiate discussion with the caller varies widely across the state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby request the Louisiana Department of Health, bureau of emergency medical
services, to convene a working group to study the delivery of 911 emergency medical
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services throughout the state and report findings and recommendations regarding 911
emergency call takers to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on or before
February 1, 2019.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group shall consist of the following:
(1) The executive director of the bureau of emergency medical services, within the
Louisiana Department of Health, who shall serve as the chair of the working group.
(2) The executive director of the Louisiana Emergency Response Network, or his
designee.
(3) The state fire marshal, or his designee.
(4) The superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, or his designee.
(5) The director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
Preparedness, or his designee.
(6) The executive director of the Louisiana Municipal Association, or his designee.
(7) The executive director of the Louisiana Sheriff's Association, or his designee.
(8) The executive director of the Louisiana Firefighter's Association, or his designee.
(9) The executive director of the Louisiana Ambulance Alliance, or his designee.
(10) The executive director of the Louisiana Chapter of the National Emergency
Number Association, or his designee.
(11) The executive director of the Louisiana Chapter of the Association of Public
Safety Communication Officials, or his designee.
(12) The executive director of the Louisiana Wireless Information Network, or his
designee.
(13) The director of the Greater Southeast Affiliate of the American Heart
Association, or his designee.
(14) One member representing ambulance service providers in a rural area appointed
by the Louisiana Ambulance Alliance.
(15) One member representing ambulance service providers in an urban area
appointed by the Louisiana Ambulance Alliance.
(16) One member appointed by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and
Welfare.
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(17) The executive director of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana, or his
designee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group shall be convened by the
executive director of the bureau of emergency medical services, within the Louisiana
Department of Health, on or before September 1, 2018.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group shall study and make
recommendations to the legislature on the organization, funding, structure, and qualifications
of 911 emergency call takers in Louisiana, including any recommendation for state licensure
and regulation of 911 call takers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
bureau of emergency medical services, within the Louisiana Department of Health,
Louisiana Emergency Response Network, State Fire Marshal, Louisiana State Police,
Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Louisiana Municipal
Association, Louisiana Sheriff's Association, Louisiana Firefighter's Association, Louisiana
Ambulance Alliance, Louisiana Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association,
Police Jury Association of Louisiana, Louisiana Chapter of the Association of Public Safety
Communication Officials, Louisiana Wireless Information Network, and the American Heart
Association.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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