HLS 25RS-54 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 203
BY REPRESENTATIVE CHASSION
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
FUNDS/FUNDING: Provides for the payment of extraordinary medical and dental
expenses of firemen and law enforcement officers
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact the heading of Chapter 7-C of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised
3 Statutes of 1950 and to enact R.S. 39:1533(A)(3) and R.S. 40:1668.1, relative to the
4 Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen's Survivor Benefit Review Board; to provide
5 for the payment of extraordinary medical and dental expenses of firemen and law
6 enforcement officers injured in the course and scope of employment; to provide for
7 the duties and powers of the Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen's Survivor
8 Benefit Review Board; to provide for definitions; to provide for the duties and
9 powers of the state risk director; to authorize the promulgation of rules; to provide
10 for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
11Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
12 Section 1. R.S. 39:1533(A)(3) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §1533. Self-Insurance Fund
14 A.
15 * * *
16 (3) Payment for extraordinary medical and dental expenses for law
17 enforcement officers and firemen as provided for in R.S. 40:1668.1 shall be made by
18 the office of risk management on behalf of the Law Enforcement Officers and
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HB NO. 203
1 Firemen's Survivor Benefit Review Board as a result of a specific appropriation
2 received for that purpose.
3 * * *
4 Section 2. The heading of Chapter 7-C of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
5of 1950 is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 40:1668.1 is hereby enacted to read as
6follows:
7 CHAPTER 7-C. FIREMEN AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS -
8DISABILITY BENEFITS - EXTRAORDINARY MEDICAL AND DENTAL EXPENSES
9 * * *
10 §1668.1. Payment for extraordinary medical and dental expenses for firemen and
11 law enforcement officers
12 A. It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this state, under its police
13 power, to provide for certain extraordinary medical and dental expenses for firemen
14 and law enforcement officers determined to be injured as the direct and proximate
15 result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of their official
16 duties.
17 B. As used in this Section, the following words have the following
18 meanings:
19 (1) "Board" means the Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen's Survivor
20 Benefit Review Board created and provided for in R.S. 40:1665.3.
21 (2) "Extraordinary medical and dental expenses" means any of the following:
22 (a) Medical expenses of the injured employee not covered by workers'
23 compensation coverage or by the health insurance plan provided by the employer.
24 (b) Dental expenses of the injured employee not covered by workers'
25 compensation coverage or by the health insurance plan provided by the employer.
26 (3) "Law enforcement officer" means the following:
27 (a) All sheriffs and deputy sheriffs in the state employed on a full-time basis.
28 (b) All members of the state police employed on a full-time basis.
29 (c) All municipal police officers in the state employed on a full-time basis.
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HB NO. 203
1 (d) All university and college police officers at state universities and colleges
2 employed on a full-time basis.
3 (4) "Officer" includes firemen as defined in R.S. 40:1665 and law
4 enforcement officers as defined in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection.
5 C. In any case in which an officer is injured as the direct and proximate
6 result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of their official
7 duties, the state risk director shall pay, as provided by R.S. 39:1533(A)(3), on behalf
8 of the officer any extraordinary medical and dental expenses incurred as determined
9 by the board.
10 D.(1) The board shall hear and decide by unanimous vote all claims for
11 extraordinary medical and dental expenses within sixty days after documentation is
12 received. The board may request any information necessary to make a determination
13 of eligibility for the payment of such expenses.
14 (2) Within ten days after the board has reached its decision, it shall send
15 notice of its decision to the officer by certified mail. If the board denies the claim,
16 the officer shall have one year from the date of denial to file suit against the state
17 through the board in the parish where the incident that brought about the injury
18 occurred. The date of denial shall be calculated as one year from the date of receipt
19 of the decision from the board.
20 E. If the board determines the officer qualifies for the benefit payable under
21 this Section, the board shall notify the state risk director.
22 F. The maximum benefit payable shall be $150,000 per injury per officer.
23 G. No benefit shall be payable pursuant to this Section if any of the
24 following applies:
25 (1) The injury was caused by the intentional misconduct of the officer or by
26 the officer's intention to bring about his death, disability, or injury.
27 (2) The officer was voluntarily intoxicated at the time of his injury.
28 (3) The officer was performing his duties in a grossly negligent manner at
29 the time of his injury.
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HB NO. 203
1 H. The board may adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions
2 of this Section.
3 Section 3. This Act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
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 203 Original 2025 Regular Session Chassion
Abstract: Provides for the payment of extraordinary medical and dental expenses of
firemen and law enforcement officers injured in the course of their official duties.
Proposed law provides for the payment of extraordinary medical and dental expenses of
firemen and law enforcement officers injured in the course of their official duties.
Proposed law expands the powers and duties of the Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen's
Survivor Benefit Review Board to hear and decide claims for extraordinary medical and
dental expenses. Requires approval by the board of the extraordinary medical and dental
expenses of firemen and law enforcement officers injured in the course of their official
duties. Allows the board to adopt rules and regulations.
Proposed law requires the state risk director to pay extraordinary medical and dental
expenses from the Self Insurance Fund.
Effective July 1, 2025.
(Amends the heading of Chapter 7-C of Title 40; Adds R.S. 39:1533(A)(3) and R.S.
40:1668.1)
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