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)]
HB 195 Original 2021 Regular Session Selders
Abstract: Adds civilian emergency dispatchers to the definition of "first responder" for purposes
of emergency assistance and preparedness and provides a definition for "civilian emergency
dispatchers".
Present law (R.S. 23:1017.1(6)) provides a definition of "first responder" as meaning a volunteer
engaged in activities involving the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
Preparedness pursuant to present law (R.S. 29:721 et seq.) and first responders as defined in present
law (R.S. 40:1231) including but not limited to medical personnel, emergency and medical
technicians, volunteer firemen, auxiliary law enforcement officers, and members of the Civil Air
Patrol.
Present law (R.S. 29:739(C) provides that "first responder" refers to those individuals who in the
early stages of an incident are responsible for the protection and preservation of life, property,
evidence, and the environment, including emergency response providers as defined in Section 2 of
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101), as well as emergency management, public
health, clinical care, public works, and other skilled support personnel, such as equipment operators
that provide immediate support services during prevention, response, and recovery operations
consistent with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8.
Proposed law retains present law and adds "civilian emergency dispatchers" to the definition of "first
responder".
Proposed law defines "civilian emergency dispatchers" as meaning an emergency response operator
or emergency services dispatcher who provides communication support services for an agency by
responding to requests for assistance in emergencies, including any other emergency response
personnel employed by an agency.
Proposed law authorizes the Louisiana State Law Institute to arrange in alphabetical order and
renumber the definitions provided in R.S. 29:723.
(Amends R.S. 23:1017.1(6) and R.S. 29:739(C); Adds R.S. 29:723(20))