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Bill

SCR 3

HEALTH CARE: Amends rules relative to criminal history background checks on licensed ambulance personnel and nonlicensed persons.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brach Myers

Louisiana bill repeals criminal background check requirements for ambulance personnel, removing a patient safety screening mechanism from EMS workers.

Sent to the Secretary of State by the Secretary of the Senate.
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Bill Summary · SCR 3

Legislative bill overview

SCR 3 repeals existing rules that require criminal history background checks for licensed ambulance personnel and unlicensed individuals working in ambulance services. The bill removes these screening requirements from Louisiana's regulatory framework for emergency medical services.

Why is this important

Background checks serve as a public safety mechanism to prevent individuals with violent criminal histories or relevant convictions from working in positions where they have direct access to vulnerable patients. Ambulance workers handle unconscious, injured, or incapacitated people in private settings, making criminal history screening a significant safeguard in healthcare delivery.

Potential points of contention

  • Public safety concerns: Removing background checks eliminates a standard screening tool used across healthcare professions to protect vulnerable populations from individuals with histories of violence, theft, or fraud
  • Patient vulnerability: Ambulance personnel access patients in intimate situations (homes, accidents, medical emergencies) where reduced screening could increase exploitation risks
  • Industry standards conflict: Most states and national EMS organizations require background checks; this creates a divergence from established best practices in emergency medical services
  • Implementation questions: The bill doesn't clarify whether existing personnel would be grandfathered in or whether this affects only new hires going forward

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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