Senate Bill No. 402 amends and reenacts R.S. 13:4165(F)(7) and enacts R.S. 13:4165(F)(9) and (10) to address the appointment, duties, powers, and compensation of special masters in Louisiana. The bill allows special masters appointed in major disaster areas to waive their appointment and introduces an opt-out provision for parties involved in orders issued after January 1, 2022. However, this opt-out does not apply to orders issued before December 31, 2022, in judicial districts that have not previously issued such orders related to qualifying disaster events.

Additionally, the bill establishes that any order issued under this subsection will also apply to successors in interest of the parties involved, maintaining the same applicability as it did for the original parties. It also allows guaranty associations to voluntarily participate in mediation six months after assuming responsibility for covered claims, or sooner if they determine they have sufficient information. Importantly, participation in mediation does not waive any rights the guaranty associations have under existing law.

Statutes affected:
SB402 Original: 13:4165(F)(7)
SB402 Engrossed: 13:4165(F)(7)
SB402 Enrolled: 13:4165(F)(7)
SB402 Act 753: 13:4165(F)(7)