ENROLLED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 195
BY REPRESENTATIVE SELDERS
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 23:1017.1(6), R.S. 29:723(9), and R.S. 40:1372, relative to first
3 responders; to provide for emergency assistance and preparedness; to expand the
4 definition of first responders to include civilian emergency dispatchers; to provide
5 for a definition of civilian emergency dispatchers; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 23:1017.1(6) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 §1017.1. Definitions
9 Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following words and
10 terms, when used in this Part, shall have the following meanings:
11 * * *
12 (6) "First responder" means a volunteer engaged in activities involving the
13 Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness pursuant to
14 R.S. 29:721 et seq., and first responders as defined in R.S. 40:1231 R.S. 29:723(9)
15 including but not limited to medical personnel, emergency and medical technicians,
16 volunteer firemen, auxiliary law enforcement officers, state agency essential
17 workers, emergency service dispatchers, and emergency response operators, and
18 members of the Civil Air Patrol.
19 * * *
20 Section 2. R.S. 29:723(9) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
21 §723. Definitions
22 As used in this Chapter:
23 * * *
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1 (9) "First responders" means the first arriving organized responders with the
2 capability and mission to contain, mitigate, and resolve the emergency at hand,
3 including but not limited to state agency essential workers.
4 * * *
5 Section 3. R.S. 40:1372 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
6 §1372. Definitions
7 As used in this Sub-part:
8 (1) "Civilian employee" means any employee assigned to a position other
9 than that of police employee.
10 (2) "Department" means the Department of Public Safety.
11 (3) "Division" means the Division of State Police in the Department of
12 Public Safety.
13 (4) "Emergency response operator" and "emergency services dispatcher"
14 shall include individuals with and without the ability to provide medical advice as
15 provided by R.S. 40:1131(22).
16 (4)(5) "Employee" means any employee of the Division of State Police in
17 the Department of Public Safety.
18 (6) "First responder" means a public employee or volunteer whose duties
19 include responding rapidly to an emergency. The term includes any of the following:
20 (a) A peace officer whose duties include responding rapidly to an
21 emergency.
22 (b) Fire protection personnel.
23 (c) A volunteer firefighter.
24 (d) An individual certified as emergency medical services personnel.
25 (e) An emergency response operator or emergency services dispatcher who
26 provides communication support services for an agency by responding to requests
27 for assistance in emergencies.
28 (f) Other emergency response personnel employed by a state agency.
29 (5)(7) "Police employee" means any employee who is assigned to police
30 work as a peace officer pursuant to R.S. 40:1379.
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1 Section 4. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby authorized and directed to
2 arrange in alphabetical order and renumber the definitions provided in R.S. 29:723.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.