HLS 25RS-637 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 130
BY REPRESENTATIVE BILLINGS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
ADMINISTRATION DIVISION: Provides for powers and duties of the office of the state
Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 39:1547(A)(1) and (B) and R.S. 46:2592(1) and 2593, relative
3 to executive branch compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; to provide
4 for the duties and responsibilities of the office of the state Americans with
5 Disabilities Act coordinator; to provide for definitions; to provide for the return to
6 work program within the office of risk management; to provide for an effective date;
7 and to provide for related matters.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 39:1547(A)(1) and (B) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
10follows:
11 §1547. Return to work program
12 A. There is hereby created within the office of risk management the return
13 to work program. The goal of the program shall be the safe and expedient return of
14 state employees with job-related injuries and illnesses to transitional or regular
15 employment. The office of risk management shall, by rule, design a program that
16 returns workers to gainful employment as soon as is medically possible after a job-
17 related injury or illness. The program shall at a minimum include the following
18 components:
19 (1) A transitional employment return to work program.
20 * * *
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1 B. The transitional employment return to work program shall be designed
2 by the office of risk management in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of
3 Civil Service office of the state Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator. The
4 program shall have as its objective the development of transitional job descriptions
5 which allow an employee with a job-related injury or illness to return to work as
6 soon as medically possible. The office of risk management, as a part of this program,
7 shall coordinate with all state agencies, boards, and commissions the development
8 of an activity analysis form to be used to summarize the tasks and associated
9 demands of each position found in state government. The form is to be used to
10 communicate the information to physicians to enable them to make return-to-work
11 decisions concerning state workers under their care. Program procedures and forms
12 shall be developed and agreed to by both offices.
13 * * *
14 Section 2. R.S. 46:2592(1) and 2593 are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
15follows:
16 §2592. Definitions
17 For purposes of this Chapter, the following terms have the meaning ascribed
18 to them in this Section:
19 (1) "Agency" means a department, office, division, agency, commission,
20 board, committee, or other organizational unit of the executive branch of state
21 government that has fifteen or more employees.
22 * * *
23 §2593. Powers and duties
24 The office shall have the following functions, powers, and duties:
25 (1) To serve as the coordinating body for ADA compliance for all state
26 agencies within the executive branch of state government.
27 (2) To assist state agencies in updating, strengthening, and enhancing the
28 scope of self-evaluation and transition plans to ensure compliance with the ADA
29 mandate. To promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative
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HB NO. 130
1 Procedure Act to ensure consistent administration of the ADA and related disability
2 accommodations laws across state agencies.
3 (3) To provide consultation on state employee accommodations, upon
4 request, including review of applicable medical documentation.
5 (4) To administer and ensure compliance by state agencies with the annual
6 plans and reports required by this Chapter.
7 (5) To design the transitional return to work program in conjunction with the
8 office of risk management in accordance with R.S. 39:1547.
9 (3)(6) To provide reports and recommendations to the legislature for the
10 adoption of legislation to facilitate compliance with the ADA.
11 (4)(7) To offer subject matter expertise for all matters relating to the ADA.
12 (5)(8) To conduct general and customized training on ADA topics for state
13 agencies.
14 (6)(9) To provide informal technical assistance about the ADA to the general
15 public and collaborate with local ADA support systems.
16 (7)(10) To increase public awareness of the ADA for the purpose of helping
17 more citizens to understand the letter and the spirit of the law.
18 * * *
19 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
20signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
21by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
22vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
23effective on the day following such approval.
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 130 Original 2025 Regular Session Billings
Abstract: Provides for duties and responsibilities of the office of the state Americans with
Disabilities Act coordinator, provides for certain definitions, and for the return to
work program.
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HB NO. 130
Definitions
Present law provides that for the purposes of present law, "agency" means a department,
office, division, agency, commission, board, committee, or other organizational unit of the
executive branch of state government.
Proposed law adds that the unit of government must have at least 15 employees.
Powers and Duties
Present law provides that the office of the state Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
coordinator shall have the following functions, powers, and duties relating to the ADA:
(1) To serve as the coordinating body for ADA compliance for all state agencies within
the executive branch of state government.
(2)To provide reports and recommendation to the legislature for the adoption of
legislation to facilitate compliance with the ADA.
(3)To offer subject matter expertise for all matters relating to the ADA.
(4)To conduct general and customized training on ADA topics for state agencies.
(5)To provide informal technical assistance about the ADA to the general public and
collaborate with local ADA support systems.
(6)To increase public awareness of the ADA for the purpose of helping more citizens
to understand the letter and the spirit of the law.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law additionally requires the ADA coordinator to assist state agencies in updating,
strengthening, and enhancing the scope of self-evaluation and transition plans to ensure
compliance with the ADA mandate. Proposed law repeals present law.
Proposed law adds the following functions, powers, and duties:
(1)To provide consultation on state employee accommodations, upon request, including
review of applicable medical documentation.
(2)To administer and ensure compliance by state agencies with the annual plans and
reports required by this Chapter.
(3)To design the transitional return to work program in conjunction with the office of
risk management in accordance with proposed law.
(4)To promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative
Procedure Act to ensure consistent administration of the ADA and related disability
accommodations laws across state agencies.
Return to Work Program
Present law provides for a return to work program created within the office of risk
management. Provides as the goal of the program the safe and expedient return of state
employees with job related injuries and illnesses to transitional or regular employment.
Proposed law retains present law.
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HB NO. 130
Present law additionally provides that one of the components of the program is the
transitional employment program.
Proposed law provides for the transitional return to work program instead of the transitional
employment program.
Present law requires the office of risk management to design the program in conjunction
with the La. Dept. of Civil Service.
Proposed law provides that the program shall be designed by the office of risk management
in conjunction with the office of the state ADA coordinator instead of the La. Dept. of Civil
Service. Provides that program procedures and forms shall be developed and agreed to by
both offices.
Present law requires the office of risk management as part of the program to coordinate with
state agencies, boards, and commissions to develop an activity analysis form to be used to
communicate information to physicians making return-to-work decisions concerning state
workers.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 39:1547(A)(1) and (B) and R.S. 46:2592(1) and 2593)
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