HLS 24RS-139 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 306
BY REPRESENTATIVE OWEN
HEALTH CARE/FACILITIES: Provides for visitation policies at certain healthcare
facilities and requires that such policies allow for in-person visitation
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 40:1300.56, relative to minimum standards for visitation policies at certain
3 healthcare facilities; to require in-person visitation under certain circumstances; to
4 provide minimum requirements for in-person visits; and to provide for related
5 matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 40:1300.56 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง1300.56. Mandatory visitation in healthcare facilities by designated individuals
9 A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no hospital,
10 nursing home, licensed nursing facility, inpatient hospice facility, or other healthcare
11 facility shall deny visitation of members of the clergy or persons designated by any
12 adult patient or resident in the care of that facility.
13 B. The provisions of Subsection A of this Section shall not apply if
14 prevented by individual clinical considerations of the patient's treatment. Clinical
15 considerations shall not affect end-of-life situations.
16 C. Minors shall have the right to in-person visitation with parents or legal
17 guardians at all times.
18 D. Visitation by clergy or designated family members shall be allowed when
19 the patient or resident requests the visit subject only to individual clinical
20 considerations of the patient or resident.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-139 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 306
1 E. The provisions of this Section shall apply during all times including but
2 not limited to declared public health emergencies.
3 F. All visitation policies and procedures shall be established in accordance
4 with law and rules adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.
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 306 Original 2024 Regular Session Owen
Abstract: Requires in-person visitation at certain healthcare facilities under certain
circumstances.
Proposed law provides that no hospital, nursing home, licensed nursing facility, inpatient
hospice facility, or other healthcare facility shall deny visitation of members of the clergy
or persons designated by any adult patient or resident in its care.
Proposed law provides that provisions of proposed law shall not apply if prevented by
individual clinical considerations of the patient's treatment. Proposed law further provides
that clinical considerations shall not factor into end-of-life situations.
Proposed law provides that minors shall have the right to in-person visitation with parents
or legal guardians at all times.
Proposed law provides that visitation by clergy or designated family members shall be
allowed upon the request of the patient or resident subject only to individual clinical
considerations of the patient or resident.
Proposed law shall apply during all times including but not limited to declared public health
emergencies.
Proposed law provides that all visitation policies and procedures shall be established in
accordance with law and rules adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.
(Adds R.S. 40:1300.56)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.