LouisianaHealthcare employers check workers before making job offers
Care employers must check covered workers before job offers; some nonlicensed workers may begin supervised work while limited record questions are reviewed.
What it does
Some nonlicensed workers may start conditional work while limited background-check questions are resolved, if they are supervised and removed from direct care when a final report shows a disqualifying conviction.
Employers may not hire covered healthcare workers whose checks show certain listed convictions, including substantially similar offenses from another state or federal court.
Hospitals may use the state background-check process or an accredited screening company that searches court records and the national sex offender registry.
Argument forSome eligible workers may start supervised work sooner while limited record questions are reviewed, with removal required if the final check shows a disqualifying conviction.
Argument againstPatients could face added risk when a worker begins supervised duties before a final check, even though the employer must remove the worker from direct care if a disqualifying conviction appears.
More detail
Employers may allow some nonlicensed workers to begin conditional work while a criminal history check is being resolved. This applies to nonlicensed workers awaiting final review of a criminal history check. The preliminary review must not show a conviction for a listed offense. Any unresolved match must involve only the specified traffic, parking, or administrative matters; limited nonviolent misdemeanors; or an identity issue needing more review. The worker must be supervised under the temporary-work rules. The employer must remove the worker from direct service if the final report shows a disqualifying offense. This applies while the final criminal history check is pending.
Employers may not hire covered workers whose checks reveal specified convictions. This applies to nonlicensed workers and licensed ambulance personnel covered by the criminal history check rules. The bar covers the offenses listed in the law and offenses from another state or federal court that are substantially similar to those listed. An employer must immediately terminate a covered employee if a check reveals a listed or substantially similar conviction. The hiring rule applies when a criminal history and security check reveals a covered conviction.
Hospitals may use the state process or a qualifying background-check company to check applicants. This applies to hospitals conducting checks for covered jobs. The company must have recognized employment-screening accreditation, search the required court records and national sex offender registry, use multiple personal identifiers, and prepare its report under federal reporting rules. The check is required before a covered job or contract offer; hospitals may choose either method.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 9Signed by the Governor Jeff Landry. Becomes Act No. 802.Became Law
- Jun 9Effective date: See Act.
- Jun 4Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- Jun 1Conference Committee report received.
- Vote recorded ADOPT (#1640). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded ADOPT CONFERENCE REPORT (#1843). Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 1Rules suspended.
- Jun 1Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 70, nays 20. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.
- Jun 1Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
- Jun 1Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 27 yeas and 8 nays.
- Jun 1Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.
- Jun 1Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- Jun 1Signed by the President of the Senate on 6/2/2026.
- May 29Notice of Senate conferees appointed.
- May 28House conferees appointed: Chenevert, Miller, and Spell.
- May 28Senate conference committee members appointed: Cloud, Kleinpeter, and Morris.
- May 28Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
- May 27Read by title, roll called, yeas 93, nays 0, Senate amendments rejected, conference committee appointment pending.
- Vote recorded REJECT SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1593). Result: pass.Lower
- May 27Notice House rejected the Senate amendments.
- May 26Scheduled for concurrence on 05/27/2026.
- May 25Received from the Senate with amendments.Minor
- May 21Rules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 26 yeas and 10 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1155). Result: pass.Upper
- May 18Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 14Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 13Reported with amendments.Minor
- Apr 27Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- Apr 22Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 83, nays 5. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#646). Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- Apr 21Scheduled for floor debate on 04/22/2026.
- Apr 16Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- Apr 15Reported with amendments (13-0).Minor
- Mar 9Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- Feb 27First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
- Feb 25Prefiled.Minor
- Feb 25Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Introduced
HealthcareCriminal Justice