SB 164

2026 Regular Session  ENROLLED
  ACT No. 467
 SENATE BILL NO. 164
 BY SENATOR MCMATH AND REPRESENTATIVE CARVER
1AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 23:1017.1(6) and R.S. 29:739(C) and to enact R.S. 29:723(21),
3relative to first responders; to expand the definition of "first responder" to include
4public works employees; to provide for a definition of "public works employee"; to
5provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7Section 1. R.S. 23:1017.1(6) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8§1017.1. Definitions
9Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following words and
10terms, when used in this Part, shall have the following meanings:
11*       *       *
12(6) "First responder" means a volunteer engaged in activities involving the
13Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness pursuant to
14R.S. 29:721 et seq., and first responders as defined in R.S. 29:723 including but not
15limited to medical personnel, emergency and medical technicians, volunteer firemen,
16auxiliary law enforcement officers, state agency essential workers, emergency
17service dispatchers, emergency response operators, electrical linemen as defined by
18R.S. 29:723, public works employees as defined in R.S. 29:723, and members of
19the Civil Air Patrol.
20*       *       *
21Section 2. R.S. 29:739(C) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 29:723(21) is
22 hereby enacted to read as follows:
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  Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
  words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
 SB NO. 164  ENROLLED
1§723. Definitions
2As used in this Chapter:
3*       *       *
4(21)(a) "Public works employee" means an employee of a municipal or
5parish public works department who is responsible for the maintenance and
6improvement of municipal or parish infrastructure. Public works employees
7shall be considered first responders only in instances involving emergencies as
8declared by the governor pursuant to R.S. 29:721 et seq.
9(b) The term "first responder" may be displayed on the uniform of a
10public works employee.
11*       *       *
12§739. Intrastate Mutual Aid Compact
13*       *       *
14C. Definitions
15As used in this Section, "first responder" refers to those individuals who in
16the early stages of an incident are responsible for the protection and preservation of
17life, property, evidence, and the environment, including emergency response
18providers as defined in Section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 6 U.S.C.
19101, as well as emergency management, public health, clinical care, public works,
20and other skilled support personnel, such as equipment operators, and electrical
21linemen, and public works employees that provide immediate support services
22during prevention, response, and recovery operations consistent with Homeland
23Security Presidential Directive 8.
24*       *       *
25Section 3. This Act shall be known as and may be cited as the "Shelby LaSalle Act".
26Section 4. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby authorized and directed to
27 renumber the definitions in R.S. 29:723 to ensure that the definitions are in alphabetical
28 order.
29Section 5. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
30 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
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  Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
  words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
SB NO. 164  ENROLLED
1 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
2 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
3 effective on the day following such approval.
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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  Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
  words in boldface type and underscored are additions.