2021 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 229
BY SENATORS HENSGENS, ABRAHAM, ALLAIN, BARROW, BERNARD,
BOUDREAUX, CATHEY, CLOUD, FOIL, HENRY, JACKSON,
JOHNS, LUNEAU, MILLIGAN, FRED MILLS, ROBERT MILLS,
PEACOCK, PRICE, REESE, SMITH, TALBOT, TARVER, WHITE
AND WOMACK AND REPRESENTATIVES BACALA, GARY
CARTER, EDMONDS, HORTON, MARCELLE, MCFARLAND,
PIERRE, RISER, ROMERO, TURNER, VILLIO AND WHEAT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Chapter 20-I of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised
3 of R.S. 17:3050.11, relative to the Health Care Employment Reinvestment
4 Opportunity (H.E.R.O.) Fund; to provide for the creation of the fund as a special
5 fund in the state treasury; to provide for the transfer, dedication, use, and investment
6 of monies in the fund; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Chapter 20-I of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
9 consisting of R.S. 17:3050.11, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 CHAPTER 20-I. HEALTH CARE EMPLOYMENT REINVESTMENT
11 OPPORTUNITY
12 ยง3050.11. Health Care Employment Reinvestment Opportunity (H.E.R.O.)
13 Fund
14 A. There is hereby established in the state treasury a special fund, to be
15 known as the Health Care Employment Reinvestment Opportunity (H.E.R.O.)
16 Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "fund". The fund shall consist of monies
17 received by legislative appropriation and from grants and donations. Deposits
18 into the fund shall comply with the provisions of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the
19 Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.
ACT No. 109
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1 B. Monies in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same
2 manner as monies in the state general fund, and interest earned on the
3 investment of monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund. All unexpended
4 and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain
5 in the fund.
6 C.(1) Subject to legislative appropriation and the approval of the Board
7 of Regents, the Louisiana Health Works Commission is hereby authorized and
8 directed to determine how monies in the fund are allocated and expended
9 through a multi-year plan, solely and exclusively for the following purposes and
10 in the following priorities:
11 (a) Meet the current and growing employment demands for nursing and
12 allied health professionals by increasing the capacity of nursing and allied
13 health training programs through supporting initiatives such as increasing
14 faculty positions and clinical preceptors in nursing and allied health schools.
15 (b) Support the nursing and allied health professions by providing
16 incentives that financially support student financial stipends and tuition
17 forgiveness contingent upon employment in Louisiana health care facilities or
18 nursing or allied health schools.
19 (c) Provide incentives for nursing and allied health care professionals to
20 practice in Louisiana with an emphasis on medically underserved areas of the
21 state.
22 (2) Monies in the fund shall not be used for construction, maintenance,
23 repair, or improvement of structures.
24 D. On or before October first of each year, the Louisiana Health Works
25 Commission shall submit a plan of fund allocation to the Board of Regents.
26 E. The Board of Regents shall submit a comprehensive annual report to
27 the Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Appropriations, the
28 Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, and the House Committee on Health
29 and Welfare no later than sixty days after the end of the state fiscal year in
30 which the monies were appropriated.
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1 F. The provisions of this Section shall terminate on July 1, 2026, or when
2 all of the monies in the fund have been expended, whichever occurs first. Any
3 monies remaining in the fund on July 1, 2026, shall be transferred by the State
4 Treasurer to the state general fund.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.