HLS 19RS-521 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 155
BY REPRESENTATIVE BERTHELOT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
FIRE PROTECT/FIRE MARSHAL: Provides with respect to fire department identification
numbers and the submission of fire reports
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1567, relative to fire departments; to delete the requirement
3 that a fee and mileage be paid pursuant to fire reports; to provide for the issuance and
4 use of fire department identification numbers; to provide for the submission of fire
5 reports; to provide for violations; to make technical corrections; to provide a
6 definition; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 40:1567 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 ยง1567. Fee for fire reports by volunteer fire Fire departments; fire department
10 identification number; fire reports
11 A. A fee of five dollars for each structural fire report plus mileage at the rate
12 established for state employees per mile for each mile traveled to and from the place
13 of the fire shall be paid to a volunteer fire department for each fire report made based
14 upon an investigation and inspection by the volunteer members of the volunteer fire
15 department. The fire reports shall be submitted to the fire marshal on forms provided
16 by his office and in accordance with standards prescribed by the fire marshal. (1)(a)
17 Every municipal fire department, fire protection district, and volunteer fire
18 department, as recognized by its local governing authority, shall obtain a fire
19 department identification (FDID) number from the state fire marshal.
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-521 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 155
1 (b) If an individual, organization, or other entity is not recognized by the
2 local governing authority to conduct traditional fire department related activities, the
3 state fire marshal shall not issue the organization an FDID number.
4 (c) Any individual, organization, or other entity engaged in traditional fire
5 department activities without an FDID number shall be in violation of R.S. 14:112.2.
6 (2) For purposes of this Subsection, "traditional fire department related
7 activities" includes firefighting, fire prevention, fire investigation, fire protection,
8 and emergency duties and services.
9 B. For purposes of this Section the term "volunteer member" means an
10 individual certified under the authority of R.S. 40:1563 who does not receive any
11 compensation for his services, and the term "volunteer fire department" means a
12 legally constituted fire department or fire protection district having fewer than four
13 persons who are qualified for and receive state supplemental pay under the
14 provisions of R.S. 40:1666, et seq. Organizations which have been issued an FDID
15 number shall submit structural fire reports electronically pursuant to the standards
16 set by the state fire marshal.
17 C. Annual implementation of the standards prescribed by the fire marshal as
18 to regarding the fires which require investigation or inspection reports and the
19 content of those reports shall be subject to review by the Fire Marshal's Review
20 Board board of review established by R.S. 40:1578.1.
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 155 Original 2019 Regular Session Berthelot
Abstract: Provides for the issuance of a fire department identification number and for the
submission of fire reports for fire-related activities.
Present law provides that the fire marshal shall pay a fee of $5 plus mileage for each
structural fire report submitted by a volunteer fire department and defined volunteer fire
department. Proposed law deletes present law.
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-521 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 155
Proposed law requires that an organization obtain a fire department identification (FDID)
number in order to engage in traditional fire department activities. Proposed law further
provides that if an organization fails to obtain an FDID number, it has violated present law
(R.S. 14:112.2), which prohibits the fraudulent portrayal of a law enforcement officer or
firefighter.
Present law requires that structural fire reports be submitted to the fire marshal as he
prescribes on forms he creates. Proposed law changes present law to require that structural
fire reports be submitted electronically by organizations which obtain an FDID number.
Present law defined terms "volunteer member" and "volunteer fire department". Proposed
law deletes those terms and defines "traditional fire department activities".
Present law charges the Fire Marshal's Review board to review investigation and inspection
reports that the fire marshal prescribes. Proposed law retains present law substantively but
changes the reference from "Fire Marshal's Review board" to "board of review" to reflect
the language in the authorizing statute in present law (R.S. 40:1578.1).
(Amends R.S. 40:1567)
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.