RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 597 (SB 167) 2022 Regular Session Talbot
Existing law provides that nursing homes located in the following parishes shall develop an
emergency preparedness plan to be submitted to the La. Dept. of Health's emergency
preparedness manager: Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia,
Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St.
Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa,
Terrebonne, and Vermilion.
Prior law provided for the minimum details required in the emergency preparedness plan
regarding evacuation of the nursing home.
New law retains prior law and adds a requirement for the emergency preparedness plan to
also contain a detailed plan to address emergency power in the event of the loss of primary
electrical power in that nursing home if evacuation from the nursing home is not required.
Further provides for the La. Dept. of Health (LDH) to confirm that the plan contains the
minimum required information.
Prior law provided for the duties of the La. Dept. of Health regarding submitted emergency
management plans.
New law retains prior law and requires each nursing home's primary sheltering host site and
any other alternative sheltering host sites to be inspected and approved by the office of state
fire marshal (OSFM). Further provides for LDH to confirm that the OSFM has approved a
nursing home's emergency preparedness plan prior to issuing a license or renewing a license
for that nursing home.
New law provides that, if the OSFM does not inspect a sheltering host site within 15 business
days after LDH receives a nursing home's emergency preparedness plan or summary of an
updated plan, the sheltering host site shall be considered conditionally approved until the
completion of the federal survey of the nursing home as required by CMS.
Effective June 18, 2022.
(Amends R.S. 40:2009.25(A), (C)-(E), and (I); adds R.S. 40:1563(N))