HEALTH SERVICES: Provides for the membership of the Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Commission. (8/1/26)
Summary
SB 109 amends the statute governing the Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Commission by revising several of the governor-appointed membership categories. The bill keeps the commission at twelve voting members, but updates who may fill certain seats and who may nominate or approve them. Specifically, it clarifies that two EMS administrator seats include one private-sector and one public-sector representative nominated by the Louisiana Ambulance Alliance, that the educator-qualified paramedic/EMT seats include at least one appointee from the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association, and that one member must be at least a state-certified or state-licensed EMT nominated by the Louisiana Municipal Association.
The measure is a targeted governance change rather than a broad policy overhaul. It affects R.S. 40:1133.3, the law creating and structuring the Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Commission, by refining the qualifications and nomination sources for selected members. In practical terms, it adjusts how EMS stakeholders, fire chiefs, and municipal interests are represented on the commission that helps oversee emergency medical services policy and administration in Louisiana.
Impact
SB 109 amends R.S. 40:1133.3(B)(1)(a), (b), and (d) to update the membership requirements for the Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Commission. The bill changes the statutory language governing appointment qualifications and nomination authority for certain commission seats, but it does not alter the commission’s size, core duties, or broader regulatory powers. Its effect is to formalize representation from specific EMS-related organizations and local government stakeholders in the commission’s composition.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate 38-0 and the House 92-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The absence of committee transcript material or recorded opposition suggests the measure was viewed as a routine administrative update to improve or clarify commission membership rather than a contested policy change.
Contention
No notable opposition is reflected in the available record. Because the bill concerns appointment structure and stakeholder representation on the EMS Commission, any potential points of contention would likely have centered on which organizations receive nomination authority or whether the revised qualifications favor particular professional groups. However, the unanimous votes and lack of recorded debate indicate that no significant disagreement surfaced during consideration.
Transfers certain family and support programs from the Department of Children and Family Services to the Louisiana Workforce Commission and renames Louisiana Workforce Commission to Louisiana Works (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)