SLS 24RS-1450 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 487
BY SENATOR CATHEY
HOSPITALS. Provides for hospital drug screenings. (8/1/24)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 40:978.2.2, relative to drug screening; to require fentanyl testing in certain
3 circumstances; to provide for reporting; and to provide for related matters.
4 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
5 Section 1. R.S. 40:978.2.2 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
6 ยง978.2.2. Hospital drug screening; fentanyl; minors
7 A. If a minor is treated at a hospital for a suspected opioid overdose and
8 the hospital conducts a urine drug screening to assist in diagnosing the minor's
9 condition, the hospital shall include testing for fentanyl in the minor's urine
10 drug screening.
11 B. If the urine drug screening conducted in accordance with Subsection
12 A of this Section detects fentanyl, the hospital shall report the de-identified test
13 results to the Louisiana Department of Health, office of public health. The office
14 of public health shall treat any reports or documents as confidential and the
15 documents shall not be subject to release pursuant to a public records request
16 or subpoena to the Louisiana Department of Health or the office of public
17 health.
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. 487
SLS 24RS-1450 ENGROSSED
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Amanda Trapp.
DIGEST
SB 487 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Cathey
Proposed law provides that if a hospital conducts a urine drug screening on a minor for a
suspected opioid overdose, the screening shall include testing for fentanyl.
Proposed law requires the hospital to report any screening conducted pursuant to proposed
law that detects fentanyl to the Louisiana Department of Health.
Effective August 1, 2024.
(Adds R.S. 40:978.2.2)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill
1. Limits the required screenings to apply to minors being treated for a
suspected opioid overdose.
2. Removes provisions relative to exemptions and liability of liability.
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.