The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.
DIGEST
SB 36 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Mills
Proposed law provides legislative intent regarding the need to regulate emergency departments
including to protect the public health and welfare and to preserve our rural hospitals.
Proposed law provides definitions.
Proposed law provides that an emergency department shall be licensed by the Department of Health
as part of a hospital's main campus or as a separate off-site campus of the existing licensed hospital.
Proposed law provides that freestanding emergency departments shall be prohibited in Louisiana.
Proposed law provides that no license shall be granted to a hospital off-site campus emergency
department within the primary service area of a rural hospital as defined by present law.
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Adds R.S. 40:2115.31 through 2115.33)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill
1. Removes legislative intent declaring that the public health and welfare is not
promoted by freestanding emergency departments which are not part of a licensed
hospital and do not have inpatient hospital services.
2. Makes technical corrections.