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HLS 26RS-977 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 554
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILFORD CARTER
HEALTH CARE/PROVIDERS: Provides relative to civil monetary penalties for violations
by healthcare facilities
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 40:2199(B)(2)(a) through (d) and to enact R.S. 40:2199(B)(4)
3 and (5), relative to violations at healthcare facilities; to provide for penalties; to
4 provide for untimely reports of abuse; to direct the Louisiana Department of Health
5 to submit a report; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 40:2199(B)(2)(a) through (d) are hereby amended and reenacted and
8 R.S. 40:2199(B)(4) and (5) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §2199. Violations; penalties; fines; notice; hearings; appeal; licensed entities
10 B.
11 * * *
12 (2) A schedule of civil fines by class of violations shall be as follows:
13 (a) Class A - Violations that create a condition or occurrence relating to the
14 operation and maintenance of a facility, which result in death or serious harm to a
15 resident or client. Civil fines shall not exceed two thousand five hundred five
16 thousand dollars for the first violation and shall not exceed ten five thousand dollars
17 per day for repeat violations.
18 (b) Class B -Violations that create a condition or occurrence relating to the
19 operation and maintenance of a facility which create a substantial probability that
20 death or serious physical or mental harm to a resident or client will result from the
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-977 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 554
1 violation. Civil fines shall not exceed one two thousand five hundred dollars for the
2 first violation and shall not exceed three six thousand dollars per day for repeat
3 violations.
4 (c) Class C - Violations that create a condition or occurrence relating to the
5 operation and maintenance of a facility which create a potential for harm by directly
6 threatening the health, safety, rights, or welfare of a resident or client. Civil fines
7 shall not exceed one two thousand dollars for the first violation and shall not exceed
8 two four thousand dollars per day for repeat violations.
9 (d) Class D - Violations related to administrative and reporting requirements
10 that do not directly threaten the health, safety, rights, or welfare of a resident or
11 client. Civil fines shall not exceed one two hundred dollars for the first violation and
12 shall not exceed two hundred fifty five hundred dollars per day for repeat violations.
13 * * *
14 (4) If a facility fails to report abuse, neglect, serious injury, or death in a
15 timely manner, a penalty may be assessed as a separate violation for each day
16 delayed.
17 (5) On November first of each year, the Louisiana Department of Health
18 shall publish a report of penalties assessed, penalties collected, repeat violations, and
19 facilities with three or more deficiencies within a twelve-month period. The
20 department shall submit the report to the David R. Poynter Legislative Library.
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 554 Original 2026 Regular Session Wilford Carter
Abstract: Modifies penalties for certain healthcare facilities for violations that result in
harm to or increase the likelihood of harm to a resident or patient of the facility.
Present law provides facilities with violations that create a condition or occurrence relating
to the operation and maintenance of a facility, which results in death or serious harm to a
resident or client, known as a Class A violation, shall be fined not more than $2,500 for a
first violation and not more than $5,000 per day for repeat violations.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-977 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 554
Proposed law modifies present law and increases the civil fine for the first violation to
$5,000 and increases the per day violation to $10,000 per day for repeat violations.
Present law provides facilities with violations that create a condition or occurrence relating
to the operation and maintenance of a facility, which creates a substantial probability that
death or serious physical or mental harm to a resident or client will occur, known as a Class
B violation, shall be fined not more than $1,500 for a first violation and not more than
$3,000 per day for repeat violations.
Proposed law modifies present law and increases the civil fine for the first violation to
$3,000 and increases the per day violation to $6,000 per day for repeat violations.
Present law provides facilities with violations that create a condition or occurrence relating
to the operation and maintenance of a facility, which creates a potential for harm directly
threatening the health, safety, rights, or welfare of a resident or client, known as a Class C
violation, shall be fined not more than $1,000 for a first violation and not more than $2,000
per day for repeat violations.
Proposed law modifies present law and increases the civil fine for the first violation to
$2,000 and increases the per day violation to $4,000 per day for repeat violations.
Present law provides facilities with violations that create a condition or occurrence relating
to the operation and maintenance of a facility, which creates a potential for harm directly
threatening the health, safety, rights, or welfare of a resident or client, known as a Class D
violation, shall be fined not more than $100 for a first violation and not more than $200 per
day for repeat violations.
Proposed law modifies present law and increases the civil fine for the first violation to $200
and increases the per day violation to $400 per day for repeat violations.
Proposed law authorizes the assessment of a separate penalty for each day a facility fails to
timely report abuse, neglect, serious injury, or death.
Proposed law requires the Louisiana Department of Health to publish an annual report
detailing penalties assessed, penalties collected, repeat violations, and facilities cited for
three or more deficiencies within a twelve-month period.
(Amends R.S. 40:2199(B)(2)(a)-(d); Adds R.S. 40:2199(B)(4) and (5))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.