HB 819 updates Louisiana's workers' compensation medical treatment guidelines by adopting evidence-based Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) as the standard for non-covered treatments. It directly affects injured workers, employers, and healthcare providers by requiring all medical treatments not listed in the official schedule to follow strict, current evidence-based criteria. Key provisions mandate that such treatments must rely on comprehensive medical literature reviews, address potential biases, use the most recent guidelines (within five years), and align with interdisciplinary standards. The bill repeals outdated sections to streamline the process, ensuring treatments are scientifically supported and cost-effective for workers' compensation cases.
HB 315 prohibits employers from including noncompete clauses in contracts or agreements with interns (paid or unpaid) or apprentices. The bill directly affects these workers by preventing employers from restricting them from working in similar jobs after their internship or apprenticeship ends. Key provisions explicitly ban any contract term that restrains an intern or apprentice from engaging in business or employment comparable to their employer’s. This policy change ensures interns and apprentices retain freedom to pursue similar work opportunities without legal restrictions imposed during their training period. The bill aims to protect trainees from unfair limitations on future employment options.
SB 13 modifies how Louisiana's Teachers' Retirement System calculates employer contributions and handles investment returns. It changes the method for applying excess investment returns to reduce the system's debt, specifically requiring reamortization (resetting payment schedules) when the system reaches 80% funding or every five years starting in 2019. This affects the state's payments into the retirement fund and directly impacts public school teachers' retirement benefits. The bill repeals outdated calculation rules and clarifies how future contributions will be applied to the system's debt.
This bill clarifies rules for municipal retirees who return to part-time work. It ensures retirees with over 30 years of service and age 60+ will keep full retirement benefits without reduction if rehired part-time (until June 2028), regardless of earnings. For other retirees (30 years or less service), benefits are reduced if their part-time earnings exceed the difference between their final salary and retirement benefit. The changes apply specifically to those returning to employment covered by Louisiana's Municipal Employees' Retirement System.
HB 334 re-creates Louisiana Works, a state workforce development program, effective June 30, 2026, with all authority ending July 1, 2031. It requires the legislature to reauthorize the Incumbent Worker Training Program by July 1, 2030, to continue funding for worker training. The bill directly affects Louisiana workers and employers participating in these workforce development initiatives. It establishes specific renewal deadlines and termination dates for these programs under Louisiana law.
HB 48 amends Louisiana law to clarify membership requirements and contribution rules for the Sheriffs' Pension and Relief Fund. It requires all deputies (including those in Orleans Parish), criminal/civil deputies, and specific court criers (Orleans Civil District Court and Louisiana Supreme Court) aged 18+ with minimum salaries to automatically join the fund. The bill mandates monthly deductions from members' salaries and employer payments covering both employee and employer shares, to be remitted to the fund's treasurer. If employers fail to pay, the fund's treasurer notifies the legislative auditor, who can withhold the employer's funds until payments are made. This bill directly affects Louisiana sheriffs' deputies and court officers in designated roles.
This bill updates Louisiana workers' compensation laws to clarify definitions and procedures for injured employees. It formally defines "maximum medical improvement" as a point where an employee's condition is unlikely to improve substantially, even if they continue receiving treatment for chronic pain. The legislation also establishes clearer rules for temporary and permanent disability benefits, including specific maximum time limits for receiving compensation and new provisions for supplemental earnings benefits. Additionally, the bill strengthens fraud prevention measures by defining what constitutes willful misrepresentation of benefits and outlines requirements for vocational rehabilitation services to help injured workers return to suitable employment.
SB 383 amends Louisiana’s Incumbent Worker Training Program to establish a new "Flexible Workforce Fund" within the existing program, allocating up to 40% of state funds for sector-based training and pilot projects addressing high-demand jobs. It clarifies eligible training types - including customized programs for businesses (including small businesses with ≤50 employees), preemployment training, and work-based learning - and sets spending limits (e.g., no more than 10% for administration). The bill directly affects Louisiana employers seeking workforce training grants and training providers delivering approved programs. Key mechanisms include mandatory fund allocation rules, employer credit provisions for program funding, and updated eligibility criteria for businesses. The changes aim to streamline funding for workforce development while ensuring revenue neutrality for the state.
HB 32 amends Louisiana's State Employees' Retirement System to clarify key rules for current and former state employees. It specifies that disability retirees returning to work before age 60 lose their retirement allowance temporarily but regain full service credit for eligibility (not benefit calculations), and requires restoration of prior service certificates. The bill also strengthens exemptions protecting retirement benefits from seizure (except for specific tax cases), adds procedures for correcting administrative errors, and updates benefit calculation rules - particularly for peace officers in the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Additionally, it mandates that spouse consent is required for certain annuity options, or the system defaults to a joint survivor benefit.
HB 25 amends Louisiana's Teachers' Retirement System rules to align with federal IRS requirements for benefit payments. It specifies that benefits must begin no later than April 1 following retirement or age 72.5, whichever is later, and establishes clear rules for surviving spouses (who may elect to be treated as the member) and beneficiaries like children (who may qualify under specific age/disability conditions). The bill directly affects Louisiana public school teachers, their surviving spouses, and designated beneficiaries by clarifying payment timing and eligibility under federal law. It takes effect July 1, 2027, with costs covered by employer contributions.
