Bill > HB790

This bill, titled the "Louisiana Correctional Facility Medical Emergency Response and Accountability Act," establishes new requirements for medical emergency preparedness in correctional facilities, defining key terms like "automated external defibrillator" (a device that can restart a heart) and "cardiopulmonary resuscitation" (CPR, measures to restore breathing and heartbeat). It mandates that correctional officers and chaplains be certified in CPR and automated external defibrillator use, with specific timelines for initial certification and annual recertification, and requires correctional facilities to have enough automated external defibrillators readily accessible. The bill also creates a voluntary inmate CPR training program, noting participation positively in inmate records, and mandates unannounced quarterly contraband screenings for staff with direct inmate contact, with penalties for introducing contraband. Furthermore, it imposes a duty on all correctional staff to immediately render aid and summon emergency services during inmate medical emergencies, prohibiting actions like ignoring or delaying response, and establishes a civil cause of action for inmates or their families against staff or facilities for failing to provide adequate medical care or training, with provisions for damages and the inapplicability of certain immunity defenses. Criminal penalties are outlined for intentional failure to provide aid, interference with emergency response, or falsifying reports, and facilities must attempt to notify an inmate's immediate family within thirty minutes of death or a life-threatening medical emergency. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections will submit an annual report to the legislature on compliance and medical emergency data, and the legislative auditor will conduct random audits, with funding appropriated for implementation and a prohibition on charging inmates or their families for these services. Finally, the bill amends the authority of the attorney general to investigate or prosecute violations of this new act, with specific effective dates for different sections.

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https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=26rs&b=HB790&sbi=y