HEALTH: Provides for comprehensive regulation relative to gestational carrier agreements (OR INCREASE SD EX See Note)

This bill establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for gestational carrier agreements in Louisiana, affecting intended parents, gestational carriers, and agencies involved in assisted reproduction. It creates a new program within the Louisiana Department of Health to license and oversee gestational carrier agencies, requiring independent legal counsel, medical evaluations, and psychological consultations before agreements become enforceable. Key provisions mandate financial controls through escrow accounts, establish a gestational carrier registry, and set standards for screening, counseling, and recordkeeping while allowing compensated arrangements under strict oversight. The legislation also defines eligibility requirements for parties, outlines procedures for parentage determination, and authorizes civil, administrative, and criminal penalties for violations.