Additional SENATE floor amendments technical;

SENATE floor amendments [LINK] restructure the medical board to include 9 physicians, 1 consumer, and 1 non-physician healthcare professional. The non-physician must meet residency and licensing requirements and can't vote on physician discipline or exam grading. Members appointed after Aug. 1, 2025, serve staggered terms—4 years for most, 2 years for the non-physician. No more than 3 consecutive terms. One physician must come from each congressional district. The board may hire a physician as executive director.

SENATE H&W committee amendments [LINK] expand the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners from 10 to 11 members by adding a non-physician healthcare professional regulated by the board. The first appointee in this new position must be a physician assistant. All members will now serve at the pleasure of the governor. Term lengths are set at four years for physician and consumer members, and two years for the non-physician member, with a maximum of three consecutive terms. Terms begin on July 1 of the year of appointment. The amendments also update the order and numbering of board appointments.

HOUSE floor amendments [LINK] include:

• Adds geographic requirements and mandates minority representation in several appointments.
• Expands board membership to include a physician assistant and a consumer member.
• Shifts oversight of the director of investigations to the executive director.

HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] restructure the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, establishing a 10-member board appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate, representing specific medical and healthcare organizations, and including one consumer member. Membership must reflect geographic and minority representation. A non-physician healthcare professional is added, with the initial appointee being a physician assistant. Residency requirements for physician members increase from six months to five years, and members serve at the governor’s discretion under the oversight of the Louisiana Department of Health. The amendments also shift responsibility for hiring the director of investigations from the board to the executive director. Previous statutory causes for removal of board members are repealed. The Act is effective upon the governor's signature.

Proposes changes to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME). It increases board membership from 10 to 11, adding a representative from the Louisiana Academy of Physician Assistants. The bill allows the governor to remove and reappoint members at the start of a new term and limits members to two consecutive terms instead of three. It also shifts certain board powers from discretionary to mandatory, requiring the selection of officers and the adoption of rules and bylaws to ensure efficient board operations.

The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME) is responsible for regulating the practice of medicine and allied health professions in Louisiana. Its primary functions include:

• Licensing: Issuing and renewing licenses for physicians, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals.
• Discipline: Investigating complaints and taking disciplinary action against licensees who violate medical regulations.
• Regulation & Oversight: Establishing and enforcing rules governing medical practice, ensuring compliance with state laws.
• Education & Compliance: Providing guidance and resources to medical professionals to maintain ethical and professional standards.
• Public Protection: Ensuring that healthcare practitioners meet competency standards to protect patient safety.

Modifies aspects of LSBME's structure, particularly its governance and rule-making authority.

Proposes changes to how civil court costs are used in the City Court of Alexandria:

• Currently, 50% of these fees go to court operations, and 50% to the Rapides Parish Police Jury’s general fund.
• The bill allows these funds to supplement clerk and deputy clerk salaries with approval from both the court and the paying entity.
• It also permits using the funds for court operational expenses (e.g., clerical, stenographic) without needing approval.
• The bill repeals sunset provisions from a 2023 law, making these changes permanent.

Exempts overtime pay and tip income from Louisiana state income tax for resident individuals starting January 1, 2026.

Key Provisions: 

1. Overtime Pay Deduction (R.S. 47:297.26): 

  - Deducts actual overtime earnings beyond a 40-hour workweek. 

  - Requires documentation for deduction claims. 

2. Tip Income Deduction (R.S. 47:297.27): 

  - Deducts actual tip income reported via IRS Forms W-2 and 4137. 

  - Requires documentation for deduction claims. 

3. Rulemaking Authority: 

  - Allows the Department of Revenue to set implementation rules. 

Enacts R.S. 33:2494(C)(7) to adjust the classified police service in Alexandria. For vacancies not filled by reinstatement or reemployment, the bill requires the appointing authority to choose from the five highest departmental seniority candidates on the promotional list, rather than just the top one. It retains the existing civil service system for municipalities over 13,000, adding a tailored exception for Alexandria. This balances seniority with flexibility, likely addressing local staffing needs.

This bill clarifies Louisiana’s time limits for collecting certain education-related debts by defining what counts as written proof.

• Debts to charities, schools, or the state (like student loans or stipends) expire after 30 years if there’s written evidence.
• Other debts to public colleges (not student loans or benefits) expire after 10 years if in writing.
• Adds a legal definition of “writing” to remove confusion.
• Reorganizes the law into clearer sections without changing the actual time limits.
• Applies retroactively but doesn’t reopen closed cases.

Expands the definition of "first responder" to include electrical linemen under specific conditions. Below is a concise analysis of the bill: 1. Definition Expansion: o Amends existing laws (R.S. 23:1017.1(6) and R.S. 29:739(C)) and adds R.S. 29:723(20) to classify "electrical linemen" as first responders. o Defines "electrical lineman" as a person employed to install, maintain, or repair electrical transmission and power distribution systems. 2. Scope and Limitations: o Electrical linemen are considered first responders only during weather emergencies declared by the governor under R.S. 29:721 et seq. o This status does not entitle them to state or local government compensation, pensions, or benefits based solely on their employment as linemen. 3. Employment Status: o Electrical linemen remain private sector employees, not governed by state or local government entities. o Employers retain responsibilities under Civil Code Article 2320 (vicarious liability). 4. Practical Implications: o Allows electrical linemen to display "first responder" on their uniforms. o Includes them as skilled support personnel under the Intrastate Mutual Aid Compact, facilitating their involvement in emergency response and recovery operations. Intent and Impact: • Recognizes the critical role of electrical linemen in restoring power during weather-related emergencies, granting them priority access to emergency scenes without altering their employment benefits or status. • Enhances emergency preparedness by formally integrating linemen into the first responder framework, aligning with federal guidelines (e.g., Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8), while maintaining clear boundaries on their classification as private sector workers.

Designates the town of Ball, Louisiana, as the Moon Pie Capital of Louisiana.

Key Provisions:

• Recognizes Ball's inaugural Moon Pie Festival held on March 23, 2024.
• Notes cultural ties between Moon Pies, the South, and Mardi Gras traditions.
• Acknowledges Chattanooga Bakery's approval for the town to host the event.
• Encourages continued support for the festival and its designation.