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2022 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 411
BY SENATORS WHITE AND BARROW
HEALTH CARE. Provides relative to the Louisiana Emergency Response Network.
(8/1/22)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 40:2841, 2842(3), 2843(A), 2844(B)(3), (15), (16), (17), (20),
3 and (23), (C), and (D), and 2845(A)(1) and (2)(b) and (C)(1), relative to the
4 Louisiana Emergency Response Network; to provide for legislative purpose; to
5 provide for definitions; to provide for the Louisiana Emergency Response Network;
6 to provide for the governing board; to provide for an annual report; and to provide
7 for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 40:2841, 2842(3), 2843(A), 2844(B)(3), (15), (16), (17), (20), and
10 (23), (C), and (D), and 2845(A)(1) and (2)(b) and (C)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted
11 to read as follows:
12 §2841. Legislative purpose
13 The legislature declares that in order to safeguard the public health, safety,
14 and welfare of the people of this state against unnecessary trauma and time-sensitive
15 related deaths and incidents of morbidity due to trauma, stroke, and ST-segment
16 myocardial infarction (STEMI), a comprehensive, coordinated statewide system
17 for access to regional trauma-patient trauma, stroke, and STEMI patient care
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1 throughout the state be established. This system shall be compatible and interfaced
2 with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
3 §2842. Definitions
4 As used in this Chapter the following terms shall have the following
5 meanings:
6 * * *
7 (3) "Louisiana Emergency Response Network" (LERN) means the statewide
8 system of regional trauma-patient trauma, stroke, and STEMI patient care that is
9 an organized, seamless, coordinated effort among each component of care including
10 pre-hospital, acute care, post-acute care, rehabilitation, and injury prevention in a
11 defined geographic area which provides access to local health systems for time-
12 sensitive patient care treatment and is integrated with local public health systems and
13 the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
14 * * *
15 §2843. Louisiana Emergency Response Network; creation; domicile
16 A. The Louisiana Emergency Response Network is hereby created as a
17 network which, through its board, shall direct the efforts to decrease trauma-related
18 trauma, stroke, and STEMI-related deaths and incidents of morbidity and
19 mortality due to trauma, stroke, and STEMI in Louisiana. By maximizing the
20 integrated delivery of optimal resources for patients who ultimately need acute
21 trauma, stroke, and STEMI care, the network shall address the daily demands of
22 trauma, stroke, and STEMI care and form the basis for disaster preparedness. The
23 resources required for each component of the system shall be clearly identified,
24 deployed, and studied to ensure that all injured patients gain access to the appropriate
25 level of care in a timely, coordinated, and cost-effective manner.
26 * * *
27 §2844. Governing board; membership, appointment, terms, compensation, vacancies
28 * * *
29 B. The network shall be governed by a board of twenty-nine members which
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1 shall include:
2 * * *
3 (3) One member from nominees submitted by the Metropolitan Hospital
4 Council of New Orleans Louisiana Hospital Association to represent hospitals with
5 one hundred beds or more.
6 * * *
7 (15) Two members from the Louisiana House of Representatives to be
8 appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
9 (16) Two members from the Louisiana Senate to be appointed by the
10 president of the Senate.
11 (17) One 211 member of the Louisiana Alliance of Information and Referral
12 Systems. One member who is an EMS practitioner from a list of nominees
13 submitted by the Louisiana Association of Nationally Registered Emergency
14 Medical Technicians (LANREMT).
15 * * *
16 (20) One member of the Louisiana Hospital Association rehabilitation
17 constituency group to represent hospitals providing rehabilitation services.
18 * * *
19 (23) One medical director of an emergency medical services agency from
20 nominees submitted by the Louisiana Association of EMS Physicians Chapter of
21 the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP).
22 * * *
23 C.(1) The Except as provided in Paragraphs (B)(15) and (16) of this
24 Section, members listed in Paragraphs (B)(1) through (14) and (17) through (24) of
25 this Section shall be appointed by the governor from a list of qualified candidates
26 nominated by the respective organizations. Each organization shall submit a list
27 of at least four nominees to the governor.
28 (2) The organizations listed in Paragraphs (B)(1) through (14) and (17)
29 through (24) of this Section shall each submit a list of at least four nominees for the
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1 respective board position to the governor.
2 (3) The members listed in Paragraphs (B)(15) and (16) of this Section shall
3 be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the
4 Senate, respectively.
5 D. All members of the board shall serve terms of three years., except for
6 initial terms beginning on the effective date of this Chapter, and determined by lot
7 at the first meeting of the board as follows:
8 (1) Six shall serve until July 1, 2005.
9 (2) Seven shall serve until July 1, 2006.
10 (3) Seven shall serve until July 1, 2007.
11 * * *
12 §2845. Board; functions, powers, and duties
13 A. The board shall:
14 (1) Establish and maintain a statewide trauma system that shall include a
15 centralized communication center for resource coordination of medical capabilities
16 for participating trauma centers, as defined by R.S. 40:2171, participating stroke
17 and STEMI centers, as defined by rule, and emergency medical services.
18 (2) Provide for implementation of a network and plan designed to achieve:
19 * * *
20 (b) A reduction in the number and severity of disabilities caused by trauma,
21 stroke, and STEMI.
22 * * *
23 C.(1) The board shall submit an annual written report to the Senate and
24 House committees on health and welfare at least thirty days prior to each regular
25 session. The report shall include a summary of the data relevant to the goals set forth
26 in Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section and all other information relevant to
27 trauma-patient trauma, stroke, and STEMI patient care and its delivery in
28 Louisiana through the network.
29 * * *
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Brandi Cannon.
DIGEST
SB 411 Engrossed 2022 Regular Session White
Present law provides for the Louisiana Emergency Response Network (LERN), a
comprehensive, coordinated statewide system for access to regional trauma-patient care
throughout the state. Present law further provides for the system to be compatible and
interfaced with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
Proposed law retains present law and expands the scope to include patient care for strokes
and ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI).
Present law provides for a governing board of 29 members and provides for the
qualifications of the membership. Proposed law changes the nominating entity for the
member representing hospitals with 100 beds or more from the Metropolitan Hospital
Council of New Orleans to the La. Hospital Association. Proposed law further removes the
211 member of the La. Alliance of Information and Referral Systems and adds one EMS
practitioner from a list of nominees submitted by the La. Association of Nationally
Registered Emergency Medical Technician.
Present law provides that all members of the board shall serve terms of three years except
for the terms of the initial board members. Proposed law retains present law and repeals
outdated language relative to the initial terms.
Present law provides for the establishment and maintenance of a statewide trauma system,
which shall include a centralized communication center for resource coordination of medical
capabilities for participating trauma centers and emergency medical services. Proposed law
retains present law and expands the scope to include participating stroke and STEMI centers.
Present law provides for an annual written report to the Senate and House committees on
health and welfare at least 30 days prior to each regular session which shall include a
summary of the data relevant to the goals of present law and all other information relevant
to trauma-patient care and its delivery in this state through the network. Proposed law retains
present law and expands the scope to include data regarding patient care for strokes and
STEMI.
(Amends R.S. 40:2841, 2842(3), 2843(A), 2844(B)(3), (15), (16), (17), (20), and (23), (C),
and (D), and 2845(A)(1) and (2)(b) and (C)(1))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill
1. Clarifies the appointing authority for legislative members.
2. Makes technical changes.
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.