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 599 Original 2023 Regular Session Dustin Miller
Abstract: Grants advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) and physician assistants (PA) the
authority to certify illness and disability of teachers, teaching staff, and bus drivers, and
grants APRNs the authority to execute documents pertaining to patients' wishes with respect
to end of life care.
Present law requires the authorization of a physician in the following:
(1) Certifying an illness or disability of school bus operators and teaching staff for the purpose
of sick leave, extended sick leave, and disputes arising out of the use of sick leave and
extended sick leave.
(2) Certifying an illness or disability of teachers for the purpose of extended sick leave, disputes
arising out of the use of sick leave and extended, sick leave, and sick leave as a result of
disability that resulted from an assault or battery by a student.
(3) Confirming, identifying, and revoking do-not-resuscitate (DNR) declarations and matters
related to DNR declarations.
(4) Documenting the wishes of a qualified patient with respect to the scope of treatment in the
event of life-limiting and irreversible conditions via use of the La. Physician Order for Scope
of Treatment (LaPOST) form.
Proposed law extends the authority of a "physician" as described in present law to PAs and APRNs
under the new term "provider" with respect to school employee sick leave.
Proposed law extends the authority of "physician" as described in present law to APRNs under the
term "provider" with respect to DNR forms and LaPOST.
Present law confers immunity from liability to physicians for certain actions with respect to DNR
decelerations and LaPOST.
Proposed law extends present law immunity to "providers" as defined in proposed law.
(Amends R.S. 17:500(B)(1), 500.1(A), (B), and (C)(2), 500.2(A)(2)(intro. para.) and (c), (D)(1)(b),
and E(1)(a), (2)(a)-(c), and (e), 1201(A)(2) and (C)(1)(a), (b)(i)-(iii), and (v), 1202(A)(1)(b) and (2)(intro. para.) and (d), (D)(1)(b), and (E)(1)(a) and (c), (2)(a)-(c), and (3), 1206(A)(1),
1206.1(A)(1), (B), (C), and (D)(2), 1206.2(D)(1)(b), (E)(1)(a) and (c), (2)(a)-(c), and (3), R.S.
40:1151.1(intro. para.), (1), (6), (10), and (11), 1151.2(B), (C)(1), and (D)(2), 1151.3(A)(2)(b) and
(3)(b) and (c) and (B), 1151.6(A)-(D), 1151.7(A) and (B), the heading of Subpart C of Part I of
Subchapter A of Chapter 5-D of Title 40 of the La. Revised Statutes of 1950, 1155.1(A)(3) and (4)(a)
and (B)(1) and (2), 1155.2(intro. para.), (1)-(3), and (8) and (9), 1155.3(A), (B)(5), and (D),
1155.4(A)-(C), and 1155.5(A)(1) and (2); Adds R.S. 17:1200(D) and R.S. 40:1155.3(B)(6))