HLS 23RS-534 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 398
BY REPRESENTATIVES ROMERO, BROWN, COX, DAVIS, FISHER, FREEMAN,
GOUDEAU, HILFERTY, JORDAN, LAFLEUR, MCKNIGHT, NEWELL, ST.
BLANC, AND TARVER
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
AIRCRAFT/AVIATION: Requires persons being transported offshore by aircraft wear life
jackets equipped with personal locator beacons
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1486.2(D), (E), and (F) and to enact R.S. 40:1486.2(G),
3 relative to aircraft; to require each person being transported offshore by aircraft wear
4 a life jacket equipped with a personal locator beacon; and to provide for related
5 matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 40:1486.2(D), (E), and (F) are hereby amended and reenacted and
8R.S. 40:1486.2(G) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง1486.2. State participation in and promotion of transportation of oil and gas
10 workers over water
11 * * *
12 D. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any aircraft used
13 to transport offshore platform workers to and from the platform shall require each
14 person being transported to wear a life jacket equipped with a personal locator
15 beacon, as described in Paragraph (C)(1) of this Section.
16 E. The DA or his designated representative shall maintain familiarity with
17 all Part 91, Part 133 and Part 135 regulations promulgated by the FAA pertaining to
18 over water helicopter operations, and may obtain and review all advisory circulars
19 of the FAA that relate to such over water helicopter operations in the state or
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HB NO. 398
1 adjacent to its shores, issued under those parts of the Federal Aviation Regulations
2 ("FAR"). Where appropriate, the DA or his designated representative shall promote
3 the adherence to the regulations and adoption of the HSAC recommended practices.
4 E. F. The DA shall facilitate, as he deems necessary, information to the
5 director of operations of operators who provide over water flight services in the state
6 or adjacent to its shores, through publication on the Internet through an identifiable
7 link on the DOTD website, summaries or text of relevant new FAR and Advisory
8 Circulars published by the FAA or Recommended Practices published by HSAC.
9 F.(1) G.(1) The DA shall publish a report to the legislature, directed to the
10 chairs of the House and Senate committees on transportation, highways and public
11 works, wherein the DA shall summarize and comment upon all of the following:
12 (a) The previous year's developments in safe practices for operators who
13 provide over water flight services in the state or adjacent to its shores, as such safe
14 practices have evolved over the previous twelve months, through the federal and
15 industry organizations referenced in this Part.
16 (b) Efforts made by the DA to ensure knowledge of all such practices by
17 operators within the industry.
18 (2) The report shall be delivered to the committees no later than the first of
19 September, annually. A copy of the report shall also be sent to the director of
20 operations of each helicopter operator known by the DA to be engaged in providing
21 over water flight services in the offshore oil and gas industry.
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 398 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Romero
Abstract: Requires personal locator beacons on life jackets of persons being transported
offshore by aircraft.
Present law specifies that among considerations for helicopter safety in over water flight
services in the oil and gas industry, the DA may maintain knowledge of personal locator
beacons (PLBs) capable of transmitting a digital coded distress signal and a permanent
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HB NO. 398
homing signal suitable for use in over water flight services utilized in the oil and gas
industry.
Proposed law requires a PLB be attached to the life jacket of each person being transported
to and from offshore facilities by aircraft.
Proposed law relocates provisions regarding the DA maintaining familiarity with federal
regulations, facilitating information on over water flight services to the director overseeing
such operations, and publishing certain reports to the legislature.
Proposed law makes technical changes.
(Amends R.S. 40:1486.2(D), (E), and (F); Adds R.S. 40:1486.2(G))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Commerce to the
original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.