EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Provides relative to the definition of "first responder"

HLS 26RS-1000 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 455
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARVER
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Provides relative to the definition of "first responder"
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 23:1017.1(6) and to enact R.S. 29:723(21) and 724(I), relative
3 to the definition of first responder; to include employees of a public works
4 department in the definition of first responder; to provide for the duties of a public
5 works employee as a first responder; to provide for limitations on the use of a public
6 works employee during an emergency; to limit the impact of their participation on
7 certain rights and benefits; to authorize the training of public works employees for
8 emergency preparedness; and to provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 23:1017.1(6) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
11 §1017.1. Definitions
12 Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following words and
13 terms, when used in this Part, shall have the following meanings:
14 * * *
15 (6) "First responder" means a volunteer engaged in activities involving the
16 Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness pursuant to
17 R.S. 29:721 et seq., and first responders as defined in R.S. 29:723 including but not
18 limited to medical personnel, emergency and medical technicians, volunteer firemen,
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HLS 26RS-1000 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 455
1 auxiliary law enforcement officers, state agency essential workers, emergency
2 service dispatchers, emergency response operators, electrical linemen and public
3 works first responders as defined by R.S. 29:723, and members of the Civil Air
4 Patrol.
5 * * *
6 Section 2. R.S. 29:723(21) and 724(I) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 §723. Definitions
8 As used in this Chapter:
9 * * *
10 (21) "Public works first responder" means a state, parish, or municipal
11 employee whose primary duties include public infrastructure operations,
12 maintenance, or repair, including but not limited to transportation, roads and bridges,
13 drainage, utilities, water and wastewater systems, fleet operations, solid waste, and
14 facilities maintenance, who is required to perform emergency response functions
15 during a declared emergency or disaster.
16 * * *
17 §724. Powers of the governor
18 * * *
19 I.(1) Public works first responders are hereby recognized as essential
20 emergency response personnel and shall be integrated into state and local emergency
21 preparedness, response, and recovery operations, including but not limited to all of
22 the following:
23 (a) Incident command and emergency operations center coordination.
24 (b) Debris clearance, infrastructure stabilization, and emergency repairs.
25 (c) Support of evacuation, sheltering, and reentry operations.
26 (d) Mutual aid and intergovernmental emergency response activities.
27 (2) Public works first responders may be issued emergency credentials and
28 identification for access to restricted areas during declared emergencies.
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HB NO. 455
1 (3) The designation of public works employees as first responders pursuant
2 to this Section is for emergency operations, coordination, and recognition purposes
3 only.
4 (4) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to:
5 (a) Alter eligibility for retirement systems or retirement benefits.
6 (b) Create presumptions related to workers' compensation or occupational
7 disease.
8 (c) Mandate hazard pay, premium pay, or additional compensation.
9 (d) Expand civil service classifications or collective bargaining rights.
10 (5) Any expansion of compensation, retirement, or benefits related to this
11 designation shall require separate and explicit legislative authorization.
12 (6) Public works first responders are eligible for inclusion in emergency
13 preparedness training, exercises, and planning activities coordinated by the
14 Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and local
15 emergency management agencies, subject to available resources.
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 455 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Carver
Abstract: Provides relative to public works employees acting as first responders during an
emergency.
Present law with regard to the La. Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and
Disaster Act, defines "first responder" as a volunteer engaged in activities involving the
Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) pursuant
to R.S. 29:721 et seq., and first responders as defined in R.S. 29:723, including medical
personnel, emergency and medical technicians, volunteer firemen, auxiliary law enforcement
officers, state agency essential workers, emergency service dispatchers, and emergency
response operators, and members of the Civil Air Patrol.
Present law provides that "first responder" refers to those individuals who in the early stages
of an incident are responsible for the protection and preservation of life, property, evidence,
and the environment, as well as emergency management, public health, clinical care, public
works, and other skilled support personnel, such as equipment operators that provide
immediate support services during prevention, response, and recovery operations consistent
with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8.
Proposed law includes public works employees in the definition of "first responder".
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HLS 26RS-1000 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 455
Proposed law defines "public works first responder" as a state, parish, or municipal
employee whose primary duties include public infrastructure operations, maintenance, or
repair, who is required to perform emergency response functions during a declared
emergency or disaster.
Proposed law provides that a public works first responder will be considered first responders
only during weather emergencies as declared by the governor pursuant to R.S. 29:721 et seq.
Further provides that nothing in proposed law alters the employee's eligibility for retirement
systems or retirement benefits; creates presumptions related to workers' compensation or
occupational disease; mandates hazard pay, premium pay, or additional compensation; or
expands civil service classifications or collective bargaining rights.
Proposed law includes public works first responders in emergency preparedness training,
exercises, and planning activities coordinated by the GOHSEP and local emergency
management agencies, provided there are available resources.
(Amends R.S. 23:1017.1(6); Adds R.S. 29:723(21) and 724(I))
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