House Bill No. by Representative Dickerson amends existing Louisiana law to expand the definition of "first responder" to include members of the United Cajun Navy. The bill modifies R.S. 23:1017.1(6) to specify that "first responders" now encompass not only traditional emergency personnel but also members of the United Cajun Navy, who are recognized as volunteers engaged in emergency preparedness activities. Additionally, the bill enacts R.S. 29:723(21), which defines "the United Cajun Navy" as a nonprofit organization registered with the secretary of state.

The legislation stipulates that members of the United Cajun Navy will be considered first responders only during weather emergencies declared by the governor. It also clarifies that while they may display the term "first responder" on their uniforms, they remain private sector employees and are not governed by state or local governmental regulations. Furthermore, the bill includes the United Cajun Navy as skilled support personnel under the Intrastate Mutual Aid Compact, thereby formalizing their role in emergency response efforts.

Statutes affected:
HB329 Original: 23:1(6), 29:739(C)