ENROLLED
ACT No. 227
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 423
BY REPRESENTATIVES EMERSON, AMEDEE, BAGNERIS, BOUIE, CHAD BROWN,
TERRY BROWN, CARMODY, GARY CARTER, STEVE CARTER, CONNICK,
COUSSAN, DAVIS, DEVILLIER, GAINES, GLOVER, JIMMY HARRIS, LANCE
HARRIS, HILFERTY, HOLLIS, JAMES, JEFFERSON, JENKINS, JORDAN,
LACOMBE, LARVADAIN, LYONS, MAGEE, MARCELLE, MARINO,
MCMAHEN, MOSS, PEARSON, PIERRE, POPE, PUGH, SMITH, THOMAS,
TURNER, WHITE, AND ZERINGUE
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 37:2951.1 and to repeal R.S. 37:2951, relative to occupational and professional
3 licenses; to provide relative to procedures and requirements for removing barriers to
4 work regarding applications and student loans; to repeal the provisions for revocation
5 of licenses for defaulting on certain student loans; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 37:2951.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง2951.1. Removing barriers to work
9 A. For any person who is in default or delinquent in the payments of his or
10 her student loan, the repayment of any student loan shall not be grounds for denying
11 an application for, or an application for the renewal of, or suspension of, any license,
12 permit, or certificate required by the state of Louisiana or a political subdivision, or
13 for the granting of a conditional license, permit, or certificate required by the state
14 of Louisiana or a political subdivision, or any department, office, agency, or board
15 of such entities, in order to practice or engage in a trade, occupation, or profession.
16 B. For the purposes of this Section:
17 (1) "Default" means the failure to repay a loan according to the terms agreed
18 to in the promissory note.
19 (2) "Delinquent" means having failed to make loan payments when they are
20 due.
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1 (3) "License" means any license, permit, certificate, registration, or other
2 means required to engage in an occupation that is granted or issued by the state, its
3 agencies, or political subdivisions responsible by law for the licensing of persons or
4 occupations before a person may pursue, practice, or engage in any occupation.
5 (4) "Student loan" means a federally guaranteed or state-guaranteed loan for
6 the purposes of postsecondary education.
7 C. The provisions of this Section shall not be construed to authorize
8 nonpayment, or to delay repayment, of a student loan.
9 Section 2. R.S. 37:2951 is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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