SLS 20RS-829 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 469
BY SENATOR JOHNS
STATE AGENCIES. Provides relative to professional and occupational licensing boards
and commissions during declared emergencies. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 37:23.4, relative to professional and occupational licensing boards and
3 commissions; to provide relative to the administration of regulations during an
4 emergency; to provide relative to the regulation of persons by boards and
5 commissions when impacted by an emergency; to prohibit certain actions; to provide
6 for terms, conditions, effects, and procedures; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 37:23.4 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง23.4. Boards and commission; actions during declared emergency
10 A. In response to the threat posed by COVID-19, the governor of
11 Louisiana on March 11, 2020, declared a public health emergency in
12 Proclamation 25 JBE 2020. The provisions of this Section are intended to be
13 part of the legislative response to this public health emergency and,
14 notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, shall supersede and
15 control to the extent of conflict with any other provision of law.
16 B. During the public health emergency declared in Proclamation 25 JBE
17 2020, and any extension thereof, no professional or occupational licensing board
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 469
SLS 20RS-829 ORIGINAL
1 or commission shall take any punitive or disciplinary action against a licensee
2 solely for the late payment of a fee, late submission of a document, or failure to
3 timely meet any deadline required by law.
4 C. For the purposes of this Section, "punitive or disciplinary action"
5 shall include but not be limited to the imposition of a penalty and suspension or
6 revocation of a license. "Licensee" shall include but not be limited to a licensee,
7 permitee, registrant, or certificate holder.
8 D. The provisions of this Section shall cease when the gubernatorial
9 proclamation of public health emergency expires.
10 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
11 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
12 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
13 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
14 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Ridge.
DIGEST
SB 469 Original 2020 Regular Session Johns
Present law provides for the regulation of professions and occupations by state licensing
boards and commissions.
Proposed law provides that during the declared public health emergency issued in
Proclamation 25 JBE 2020, and any extension thereof, no professional or occupational
licensing board or commission shall take any punitive or disciplinary action against a
licensee solely for the late payment of a fee, late submission of a document, or failure to
timely meet any deadline required by law.
Proposed law provides the phrase "punitive or disciplinary actions" shall include but not be
limited to imposition of a penalty and suspension or revocation of a license.
Proposed law provides the term "licensee" shall include but not be limited to a licensee,
permitee, registrant, or certificate holder.
Proposed law shall cease when the gubernatorial proclamation of public health emergency
expires.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 37:23.4)
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.