Amends the Firefighters' Retirement System (FRS) laws by modifying R.S. 11:107.1(D)(4)(a), enacting R.S. 11:2256.4, and repealing R.S. 11:107.1(D)(4)(c). It removes the prohibition on using the FRS funding deposit account for cost-of-living increases and authorizes a one-time $2,000 lump-sum supplemental payment to retirees and beneficiaries who have received benefits for at least one year by June 30, 2025, to be paid by August 1, 2025. The payment is funded from the funding deposit account, with any additional costs covered by employer contributions. The bill takes effect upon the governor’s signature or lapse of veto period.

HOUSE and SENATE amendments [LINK] technical with date changes

Updates the Firefighters' Retirement System (FRS) by amending and enacting various statutes. It exempts disability retirees aged 62+ from benefit reductions and earnings reports, allows refunds of employee contributions (without interest) 30 days post-termination, and modifies the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). DROP changes include no employee contributions, employer contributions starting April 1, 2026, a five-year option for members with 28+ years of service, and a new self-directed investment account with third-party management, where participants assume all risks. Employers pay actuarial costs for contribution errors.

Aims to standardize the state's electronic monitoring system for individuals under pretrial or post-conviction supervision to ensure consistent implementation and enforcement statewide. The bill proposes amendments to R.S. 15:571.36 and the repeal of R.S. 15:835, focusing on several key areas:

1.    Definitions:

It clarifies terms such as "department," "manufacturer," "provider," and "system" to ensure consistent interpretation within the statute.

2.    Rule Promulgation:

The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, along with other relevant agencies, is tasked with developing and implementing rules governing:

o  Certification standards and registration requirements for electronic monitoring service providers and manufacturers.

o  Mandatory requirements for electronic monitoring equipment, including secure storage, regular inspections, inventory management, and response protocols for system malfunctions.

o  Accuracy standards for tracking the location of monitored individuals both indoors and outdoors, with specific timeframes for providing location data upon request.

o  Development of zoning capabilities, defining inclusion and exclusion zones for monitored individuals.

o  Alert notifications for equipment tampering, presence in exclusion zones, and low battery warnings, with specified response times.

3.    Management System:

The bill also introduces the Monitored Individual Management System (MIMS) to centralize and streamline the oversight of individuals under electronic monitoring. Currently there is no centralized system for managing individuals under electronic monitoring only requirements for reporting and data collection.

HOUSE committee amendments technical except for Amendment 4 [LINK] which further defines allocation of survivor benefits for disabled children.

Amends provisions in the Louisiana Revised Statutes (R.S. 11:2256) related to the Firefighters' Retirement System, specifically targeting survivor benefits for children with disabilities.

Modifies two subsections of R.S. 11:2256—(B)(3)(a) and (H)(2)(b)—to expand and clarify survivor benefits for children with disabilities within the Firefighters' Retirement System.

 Expansion of Eligibility for Survivor Benefits (B)(3)(a)

• Currently survivor benefits are payable to a child (of a deceased member or retiree) with a total physical or intellectual disability if the disability existed at the time of the member’s or retiree’s death and the child is dependent on a surviving spouse or legal guardian for subsistence.
• The proposed changes would provide benefits are now payable if the child had the disability at the time of the retiree’s retirement (not just death), and the dependency requirement is removed entirely.
• The benefits remain equivalent to those provided to minor children and can be paid in trust as per R.S. 11:2256.2. This applies regardless of the child’s age (under or over 18).

2.    Continuity of Designated Benefits (H)(2)(b)

• Currently, if a surviving spouse designates a child with a disability to receive a benefit, that benefit continues unless the disability is medically determined to no longer be permanent.
• The proposed change would provide the benefit for the life of the child, with the condition about the disability’s permanence removed, providing lifelong support regardless of the medical assessment of their disability.
• Expanding eligibility and ensuring lifelong benefits could increase the system’s payout obligations. Without data on the number of affected children or the system’s funding status, it’s unclear how significant this burden might be. Need to assess actuarial impacts to ensure sustainability.

Requires reporting and data sharing on domestic and imported seafood. 

Key Provisions: 

- Seafood processors and distributors must submit quarterly reports to the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism detailing species, volumes, and origin (country or state). 

- The department may request additional tracking info and impose fines for noncompliance. 

- Starting 2027, dealers applying for imported seafood licenses must report prior year’s imports to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, including volume, species, origin, and supply chain data. 

- This data will be shared with the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

non-tariff barrier to trade--Justin

Transfers authority for imported seafood testing, enforcement, and the Seafood Safety Task Force from the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Requires seafood processors, distributors, and dealers to report volumes and sources of imported seafood. Authorizes the agriculture commissioner to enforce safety standards, issue stop orders, and impose civil penalties. Repeals conflicting laws. Effective upon governor's signature.