Amends R.S. 40:1006(G) concerning the Louisiana Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP). The bill proposes that the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy establish rules governing the retention, archiving, and destruction of both prescription monitoring information and audit trail data. Claims to address a gap in the current management of PMP data. While existing law already requires standards for retaining, archiving, and destroying prescription data, it does not explicitly include audit trail data—the records that show who accessed or modified the prescription data and when.

Without explicit legal requirements, audit trail data may be inconsistently handled or potentially overlooked in retention policies.

HOUSE committee amendments [LINK]:

• Reduces the maximum payment for extraordinary medical or dental expenses from $150,000 to $50,000 per injury.
• Specifies that these provisions apply to injuries sustained by officers during the performance of their duties on or after January 1, 2023.

Seeks to provide financial support for firemen and law enforcement officers in Louisiana who incur extraordinary medical and dental expenses due to injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Key provisions of HB 203:

1. Establishment of Coverage for Extraordinary Expenses:
2. The bill defines "extraordinary medical and dental expenses" as costs not covered by workers' compensation or the employer-provided health insurance plan. This includes both medical and dental expenses that exceed standard coverage limits.
3. Role of the Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen's Survivor Benefit Review Board:
4. The existing board, established under R.S. 40:1665.3, is tasked with reviewing and deciding on claims for these extraordinary expenses. The board must reach a unanimous decision within 60 days of receiving the necessary documentation. If a claim is denied, the officer has one year from the date of denial to file suit against the state in the parish where the injury occurred.
5. Funding Mechanism:
6. Payments for approved claims will be made by the Office of Risk Management on behalf of the board, contingent upon specific appropriations received for this purpose. This is facilitated through the enactment of R.S. 39:1533(A)(3).

Implications:

If enacted, HB 203 would provide a structured process for injured firemen and law enforcement officers to seek reimbursement for substantial medical and dental expenses not covered by existing insurance or workers' compensation, addressing gaps in coverage for duty-related injuries.

HOUSE committee amendments [LINK]:

• Limits the bill's provisions to parishes with populations between 240,000 and 255,000.
• Requires employers to provide lifetime health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and dependent children of firefighters and law enforcement officers who die from injuries related to their official duties, whether on or off duty, protecting life or property.
• Applies these provisions retroactively to January 1, 2017.

Proposes amendments to Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:1665 and 40:1665.2 concerning financial security for the surviving spouses and children of firemen and law enforcement officers who die in the line of duty.

Key Provisions:

1.    Health Insurance Coverage for Surviving Spouses:

The bill mandates that employers provide and pay for health insurance coverage for the surviving spouse of a fireman or law enforcement officer who dies as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. This coverage is to continue for the lifetime of the surviving spouse, extending the current provision which offers coverage for two years following the officer's death.

2.    Health Insurance Coverage for Surviving Children:

Employers are required to provide and pay for health insurance coverage for the deceased officer's or fireman's children, stepchildren, or adopted children who meet any of the following criteria:

o  Under the age of 18.

o  Under the age of 23 and enrolled in and regularly attending a secondary school or a full-time student at an accredited college or university.

o  Physically or mentally disabled.

The coverage for each child continues until they no longer meet the specified qualifications.

3.    Retroactive Application:

The bill stipulates that these provisions apply retroactively. Surviving spouses and children of all law enforcement officers and firemen who have previously died in the line of duty are eligible for the extended health insurance benefits.

The employer would be obligated to re-enroll eligible surviving family members into a health insurance plan, even if coverage had previously ended under the old two-year limit. The bill mandates coverage moving forward, but it does not explicitly address whether employers must reimburse or retroactively cover medical expenses incurred during the lapse.

Implementing retroactive coverage could require significant administrative work/cost.

Proposes that all public and approved nonpublic schools in Louisiana adopt a uniform 10-point grading scale when calculating the grade point averages (GPAs) used to determine initial eligibility for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS). This standardization aims to ensure consistency in assessing students' academic performance for TOPS awards, regardless of the grading scales schools may use for other purposes.

Replaces state end-of-course exams with a minimum ACT score requirement for high school graduation.

Key Provisions: 

- Prohibits state-administered end-of-course assessments for high school students. 

- Requires students to achieve a minimum composite ACT score to graduate. 

- Directs the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to set the minimum ACT score by rule. 

- BESE must ensure the score does not lower the overall high school graduation rate.