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)]
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP ORT DIGEST
HB 243 2019 Regular Session Dustin Miller
Keyword and oneliner of the instrument as it left the House
PUBLIC HEALTH: Provides relative to opioid data reporting
Report rejects Senate amendments which would have:
1. Made permissive that any reported drug overdose by coroners or first responders be
submitted to the Bureau of Justice Assistance's Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program
through the "ODMAP" program if such reporting agency has a data-sharing agreement.
2. Made technical changes.
Digest of the bill as proposed by the Conference Committee
Present law requires the state health officer, acting through the office of public health of the La.
Department of Health (LDH), to prepare, promulgate, and enforce rules and regulations embodied
within the state's sanitary code. Provides guidelines and directives for promulgation and
implementation of the sanitary code.
Proposed law retains present law and adds a requirement that the sanitary code provide for reporting
by emergency departments of chief complaints, admit reasons, and discharge diagnosis data relating
to suspected opioid-related overdoses.
Present law requires that each coroner or physician who signs a death certificate certify the certificate
using the La. Electronic Event Registration System.
Proposed law retains present law and adds a requirement that each coroner report drug overdose
deaths where the decedent's toxicology results indicate that an opioid was present at the time of
death. Requires that such reports be entered into the La. Electronic Event Registration System.
Proposed law defines "first responders" and "opioid-related drug overdose" for purposes of proposed
law. Proposed law authorizes first responders to provide reports or documents to the LDH office of public
health where an encountered individual was experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose and
whether naloxone was administered. Provides that such reports and documents are confidential and
exempt from the requirements of present law relative to public records, R.S. 44:1 et seq.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 40:34(C) and R.S. 44:4.1(B)(26); Adds R.S. 40:4(A)(14) and 978.2.1)