FUNDS/FUNDING: Provides for the payment of extraordinary medical and dental expenses of firemen and law enforcement officers (RE1 +$25,000 GF EX See Note)

HLS 26RS-125 REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 145
BY REPRESENTATIVE CHASSION
FUNDS/FUNDING: Provides for the payment of extraordinary medical and dental
expenses of firemen and law enforcement officers
1 AN ACT
2 To 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.
11 Be 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
19 Firemen's Survivor Benefit Review Board as a result of a specific appropriation
20 received for that purpose.
21 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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HLS 26RS-125 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 145
1 Section 2. The heading of Chapter 7-C of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
2 of 1950 is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 40:1668.1 is hereby enacted to read as
3 follows:
4 CHAPTER 7-C. FIREMEN AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS -
5 DISABILITY BENEFITS - EXTRAORDINARY MEDICAL AND DENTAL EXPENSES
6 * * *
7 §1668.1. Payment for extraordinary medical and dental expenses for firemen and
8 law enforcement officers
9 A. It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this state, under its police
10 power, to provide for certain extraordinary medical and dental expenses for firemen
11 and law enforcement officers determined to be injured as the direct and proximate
12 result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of their official
13 duties.
14 B. As used in this Section, the following words have the following
15 meanings:
16 (1) "Board" means the Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen's Survivor
17 Benefit Review Board created and provided for in R.S. 40:1665.3.
18 (2) "Extraordinary medical and dental expenses" means any of the following:
19 (a) Medical expenses of the injured employee not covered by workers'
20 compensation coverage or by the health insurance plan provided by the employer.
21 (b) Dental expenses of the injured employee not covered by workers'
22 compensation coverage or by the health insurance plan provided by the employer.
23 (3) "Law enforcement officer" includes the following:
24 (a) All sheriffs and deputy sheriffs in the state employed on a full-time basis.
25 (b) All members of the state police employed on a full-time basis.
26 (c) All municipal police officers in the state employed on a full-time basis.
27 (d) All university and college police officers at state universities and colleges
28 employed on a full-time basis.
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HLS 26RS-125 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 145
1 (4) "Officer" includes firemen as defined in R.S. 40:1665 and law
2 enforcement officers as defined in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection.
3 C. In any case in which an officer is injured as the direct and proximate
4 result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of their official
5 duties, the state risk director shall pay, as provided by R.S. 39:1533(A)(3), on behalf
6 of the officer any extraordinary medical and dental expenses incurred as determined
7 by the board.
8 D.(1) The board shall hear and decide by unanimous vote all claims for
9 extraordinary medical and dental expenses within sixty days after documentation is
10 received. The board may request any information necessary to make a determination
11 of eligibility for the payment of such expenses.
12 (2) Within ten days after the board has reached its decision, it shall send
13 notice of its decision to the officer by certified mail. If the board denies the claim,
14 the officer shall have one year from the date of denial to file suit against the state
15 through the board in the parish where the incident that brought about the injury
16 occurred. The date of denial shall be calculated as one year from the date of receipt
17 of the decision from the board.
18 E. If the board determines the officer qualifies for the benefit payable under
19 this Section, the board shall notify the state risk director.
20 F. The maximum benefit payable shall be fifty thousand dollars per injury
21 per officer.
22 G. No benefit shall be payable pursuant to this Section if any of the
23 following applies:
24 (1) The injury was caused by the intentional misconduct of the officer or by
25 the officer's intention to bring about his death, disability, or injury.
26 (2) The officer was voluntarily intoxicated at the time of his injury.
27 (3) The officer was performing his duties in a grossly negligent manner at
28 the time of his injury.
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HLS 26RS-125 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 145
1 H. The board may adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions
2 of this Section.
3 I. The provisions of this Section shall be applicable to extraordinary medical
4 or dental expenses incurred due to an injury arising out of and in the course of the
5 performance of an officer's duties on or after January 1, 2023.
6 Section 3. This Act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
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 145 Reengrossed 2026 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. Limits
the maximum benefit payable to $50,000 per injury per officer.
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.
Proposed law applies to extraordinary medical or dental expenses incurred due to an injury
arising out of and in the course of performance of an officer's duties on or after Jan. 1, 2023.
Effective July 1, 2026.
(Amends the heading of Chapter 7-C of Title 40 of the La. Revised Statutes of 1950; Adds
R.S. 39:1533(A)(3) and R.S. 40:1668.1)
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