SLS 22RS-33 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 18
BY SENATOR ALLAIN
HEALTH SERVICES. Provides relative to the authority of the Louisiana Emergency
Response Network during an emergency or disaster. (8/1/22)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 40:2843, relative to the authority of the Louisiana Emergency
3 Response Network; to provide for exclusive authority to direct and facilitate transfers
4 during a declared disaster; to provide for authority over inpatients and those waiting
5 for and receiving emergency department care; to provide for care within a defined
6 geographic area; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 40:2843 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 ยง2843. Louisiana Emergency Response Network; creation; domicile
10 A. The Louisiana Emergency Response Network is hereby created as a
11 network which, through its board, shall direct the efforts to decrease trauma-related
12 deaths and incidents of morbidity and mortality due to trauma in Louisiana. By
13 maximizing the integrated delivery of optimal resources for patients who ultimately
14 need acute trauma care, the network shall address the daily demands of trauma care
15 and form the basis for disaster preparedness. The resources required for each
16 component of the system shall be clearly identified, deployed, and studied to ensure
17 that all injured patients gain access to the appropriate level of care in a timely,
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. 18
SLS 22RS-33 ORIGINAL
1 coordinated, and cost-effective manner.
2 B. During a disaster or emergency declared pursuant to R.S. 29:724, the
3 Louisiana Emergency Response Network shall have the exclusive authority to
4 direct and facilitate the transfer of any hospital patient, including but not
5 limited to inpatient admits, individuals waiting to be seen in the emergency
6 department, and individuals under the care of the emergency department staff.
7 Transfers shall be prioritized within a defined geographic area to ensure
8 continuity of care.
9 B.C. The domicile of the network shall be Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.
DIGEST
SB 18 Original 2022 Regular Session Allain
Present law created the Louisiana Emergency Response Network (LERN) to direct efforts
to decrease trauma-related deaths and incidents of morbidity and mortality due to trauma in
Louisiana.
Proposed law retains present law and adds authority for LERN to direct and facilitate the
transfer of any hospital patient during a declared state of emergency. Transfers should be
prioritized within a defined geographic area to ensure continuity of care.
Effective August 1, 2022.
(Amends R.S. 40:2843)
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.