LA Rev Stat § 40:1231.4 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Public Health and Safety|§1231.4. Patient's Compensation Fund

RS 1231.4 - Patient's Compensation Fund  A.(1)(a) All funds collected pursuant to the provisions hereof shall be considered self-generated revenues, promptly deposited by the Patient's Compensation Fund Oversight Board into a fund designated as the "Patient's Compensation Fund". The Patient's Compensation Fund Oversight Board is established and authorized pursuant to Subsection D of this Section. Neither the fund nor the board shall be a budget unit of the state. The assets of the fund shall not be state property, subject to appropriation by the legislature, or required to be deposited in the state treasury. The state recognizes and acknowledges that the fund and any income from it are not public monies, but rather are private monies which shall be held in trust as a private custodial fund by the board for the use, benefit, and protection of medical malpractice claimants and the fund's private health care provider members, and all of such funds and income earned from investing the private monies comprising the corpus of this fund shall be subject to use and disposition only as provided by this Section.  (b) The Patient's Compensation Fund Oversight Board may invest, in accordance with R.S. 40:1231.5, any portion of the private monies comprising the corpus of the fund, as determined by the board, while maintaining its ability to timely pay claims, future medical care and related benefits, and other current expenses under this Part. The board may enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement whereby the state treasurer may be authorized to invest, in accordance with R.S. 40:1231.5, a portion of the private monies comprising the corpus of the fund, as determined by the board.  (c) The fund shall be exempt from participation in and shall not join or contribute financially to or be entitled to the protection of any plan, pool, association, or guaranty fund or insolvency fund.  (d) Neither the fund nor the board may rely on the full faith and credit of this state for payment of legal obligations.  (e) The fund and the board shall not be entitled to an appropriation of state general funds without a specific appropriation approved by the legislature.  (f) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, in the event the fund is dissolved or liquidated, any remaining balance after all amounts due under this Part to medical malpractice claimants, including future medical care and related benefits as provided in R.S. 40:1231.3, and all amounts due any other person for administrative or operating expenses have been paid from the fund, shall be paid over to the state general fund by the board or then administrator of the fund for deposit in the state treasury.  (2)(a) To provide monies for the fund, an annual surcharge shall be levied on all health care providers in Louisiana qualified under the provisions of this Part.  (b) The board shall cause to be prepared an annual actuarial study of the fund by a qualified competent actuary.  (c) The board and the fund shall be exempt from rate regulation by the commissioner of insurance. The surcharge rates shall be determined by the board in a public meeting held pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 42:11 et seq. based upon actuarial principles and reports, experience, and prudent judgment of the board. The board shall give written or electronic notice of the meeting at least fifteen days in advance and provide an opportunity for public comment at the meeting before determining rates.  (d) The surcharge rates shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. In determining whether surcharge rates are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, consideration may be given to the following items:  (i) Basic rate factors. Due consideration shall be given to past and prospective loss and expense experience, catastrophe hazards and contingencies, events, or trends. Fines and penalties against a health care provider, whether levied by a court or regulatory body, shall not be used by the board or considered in any manner in the loss or expense experience.  (ii) Classification. Risks may be grouped by classification for the establishment of rates. Classification rates may be modified for individual risks in accordance with an experience-rating plan or schedule which apportions a greater percentage of required surcharge increases to those health care providers who generate greater than expected losses.  (iii) Expenses. The expense provisions shall reflect the operating methods of the board and the fund, the past expense experience, and anticipated future expenses.  (iv) Contingencies. The rates may contain a provision for contingencies.  (v) Other relevant factors. Any other factors available at the time of determining the rates.  (e) The surcharge shall be collected on the same basis as premiums by each insurer, the risk manager, and surplus line agent.  (f) The board shall collect the surcharge from health care providers qualified as self-insureds.  (g) The surcharge for self-insureds shall be the same amount determined by the board to be the amount of surcharge which the health care provider would reasonably be required to pay were his qualification based upon filing a policy of malpractice liability insurance.  (3)(a) Such surcharge shall be due and payable to the patient's compensation fund within thirty days after the premiums for malpractice liability insurance have been received by the insurer, agent of the insurer, risk manager, or surplus line agent from the health care provider in Louisiana.  (b) It shall be the duty of the insurer, agent of the insurer, risk manager, or surplus line agent to remit the surcharge to the Patient's Compensation Fund within thirty days of the date of payment by the health care provider. Failure of the insurer, agent of the insurer, risk manager, or surplus line agent to remit payment within thirty days may subject the insurer, agent of the insurer, risk manager, or surplus line agent to a penalty, the amount of which will be set by the board on an annual basis, not to exceed a total of twelve percent of the annual surcharge. Upon the failure of the insurer, agent of the insurer, risk manager, or surplus line agent to remit as provided herein, the board is authorized to institute legal proceedings if necessary to collect the surcharge, any penalty amount to be assessed, legal interest, and all reasonable attorney fees.  (4) If the annual surcharge is not paid within the time limited above, upon written notice of such nonpayment given by the board concurrently to the commissioner of insurance and the insurer, risk manager, or surplus line agent, the certificate of authority of the insurer, risk manager, and surplus line agent shall be suspended until the annual surcharge is paid.  (5)(a) All expenses of collecting, protecting, and administering the fund shall be paid from the fund.  (b) The functions of collecting, administering, and protecting the fund, including all matters relating to determining surcharge rates, establishing reserves, the evaluating and settlement of claims, and relating to the defense of the fund, shall be carried out by the board.  (c) The board shall prepare quarterly statements of the financial condition of the fund and publish the statements on the website of the board.  (d) The function of selecting the list of attorney names from which the selection of the attorney chairman of the medical review panels is to be made shall be the responsibility of the office of the clerk of the Louisiana Supreme Court.  (e) These expenses of the board and office of the clerk of the Louisiana Supreme Court shall be paid from the fund in accordance with law.  (f) Not later than the first day of January each year, the board shall submit a copy of its proposed budget for the ensuing fiscal year to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, the House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure, the Senate Committee on Judiciary A, the legislative auditor, and the legislative fiscal office. The format of the budget submission shall be as follows:  (i) A budget message signed by the budget preparer which shall include a summary description of the proposed financial plan, policies, and objectives and assumptions.  (ii) Narrative explanations describing the purpose and functions of the Patient's Compensation Fund.  (iii) Statements for the last completed fiscal year, estimates covering the entire current fiscal year, and projections for the ensuing fiscal year, as follows:  (aa) A statement showing fund balances of the Patient's Compensation Fund at the beginning of each year and at the conclusion of each fiscal year.  (bb) A statement of revenues and receipts, itemized by source.  (cc) Detailed comparative statements of expenditures itemized by source of funds and expenditure category by each major function, program, or service.  (dd) Clearly defined indicators of the quantity and quality of performance of agency functions.  (ee) Participation of agency personnel and board members in state employee benefit programs, including insurance and retirement programs.  (g) Any purchases of furniture, fixtures, equipment, or other property shall be specifically designated, by the method of identification as is reasonable and practical for each item, as the property of the fund.  (6)(a) At all times the fund shall be maintained to provide assets of at least thirty percent of the fund's outstanding liabilities, calculated using the most recent actuarial study and report for the fund.  (b) No reduction in the surcharge shall be made unless such assets are available in the fund.  (7)(a) Claims from the patient's compensation fund exclusive of those provided for in R.S. 40:1231.3 shall be computed at the time the claim becomes final.  (b) A final claim shall be paid within forty-five days of the board's receipt of a certified copy of the settlement, judgment, or arbitration award, unless the fund is exhausted and the proration provision contained in Subparagraph (7)(c) applies.  (c) If the fund would be exhausted by payment in full of all final claims then the amount paid to each claimant shall be prorated.  (d) Any amounts due and unpaid shall be prorated.  (e) Repealed by Acts 2012, No. 802, §2.  B.(1) Subject to the other provisions of this Section, the board shall issue payment in the amount of each claim submitted to and approved by it, or prorated payment, as the case may be, against the fund within thirty days of receipt of a certified copy of the settlement, judgment, or arbitration award except that payment for claims made pursuant to Subparagraph (2)(d) or (e) of this Subsection, or both, shall be made upon receipt of such certified copy.  (2) The only claim against the fund shall be a voucher or other appropriate request by the board after it receives:  (a) A certified copy of a final judgment in excess of one hundred thousand dollars against a health care provider.  (b) A certified copy of a court approved settlement in excess of one hundred thousand dollars against a health care provider.  (c) A certified copy of a final award in excess of one hundred thousand dollars in an arbitration proceeding against a health care provider.  (d) A certified copy of a judgment awarding medical care and related benefits rendered pursuant to R.S. 40:1231.3.  (e) A voucher drawn by the board through the patient's compensation fund defense counsel pursuant to a judgment reciting that a patient is in need of future medical care and related benefits under the provisions of R.S. 40:1231.3.  C. If the insurer of a health care provider or a self-insured health care provider has agreed to settle its liability on a claim against its insured and claimant is demanding an amount in excess thereof from the patient's compensation fund for a complete and final release, then the following procedure must be followed:  (1) A petition shall be filed by the claimant with the court in which the action is pending against the health care provider, if none is pending in the parish where plaintiff or defendant is domiciled seeking (a) approval of an agreed settlement, if any, and/or (b) demanding payment of damages from the patient's compensation fund.  (2) A copy of the petition shall be served on the board, the health care provider and his insurer, at least ten days before filing and shall contain sufficient information to inform the other parties about the nature of the claim and the additional amount demanded.  (3) The board and the insurer of the health care provider or the self-insured health care provider as the case may be, may agree to a settlement with the claimant from the patient's compensation fund, or the board and the insurer of the health care provider or the self-insured health care provider as the case may be, may file written objections to the payment of the amount demanded. The agreement or objections to the payment demanded shall be filed within twenty days after the petition is filed.  (4) As soon as practicable after the petition is filed in the court the judge shall fix the date on which the petition seeking approval of the agreed settlement and/or demanding payment of damages from the fund shall be heard, and shall notify the claimant, the insurer of the health care provider or the self-insured health care provider as the case may be, and the board thereof as provided by law.  (5)(a) At the hearing the board, the claimant, and the insurer of the health care provider or the self-insured health care provider, as the case may be, may introduce relevant evidence to enable the court to determine whether or not the petition should be approved if it is submitted on agreement without objections. If the board, the insurer of the health care provider or the self-insured health care provider, as the case may be, and the claimant cannot agree on the amount, if any, to be paid out of the patient's compensation fund, then the trier of fact shall determine at a subsequent trial which shall take place only after the board shall have been given an adequate opportunity to conduct discovery, identify and retain expert witnesses, and prepare a defense, the amount of claimant's damages, if any, in excess of the amount already paid by the insurer of the health care provider or self-insured health care provider. The trier of fact shall determine the amount for which the fund is liable and render a finding and judgment accordingly. The board shall have a right to request trial by jury whether or not a jury trial has been requested by the claimant or by any health care provider.  (b) The board shall not be entitled to file a suit or otherwise assert a claim against any qualified health care provider as defined in R.S. 40:1231.1(A) on the basis that the qualified health care provider failed to comply with the appropriate standard of care in treating or failing to treat any patient.  (c) The board may apply the provisions of Civil Code Article 2323 or 2324, or both, to assert a credit or offset for the allocated percentage of negligence or fault of a qualified health care provider provided at least one of the following conditions is met:  (i) A payment has been made to the claimant by, in the name of, or on behalf of the qualified health care provider whose percentage of fault the board seeks to allocate.  (ii) A payment has been made to the claimant by, in the name of, or on behalf of another qualified health care provider in order to obtain a dismissal or release of liability of the qualified health care provider whose percentage of fault the board seeks to allocate, provided that there shall be no separate credit or offset for the fault of an employer or other vicariously liable entity who was not independently negligent or otherwise at fault and who makes a payment in order to obtain a dismissal or release of liability of a single qualified health care provider for whom the payor is vicariously liable.  (iii) All or a portion of a payment made by another qualified health care provider, by the insurer of another qualified health care provider, or by the employer of another qualified health care provider has been attributed to or allocated to the qualified health care provider whose percentage of fault the board seeks to allocate, provided that there shall be no separate credit or offset for the fault of an employer or other vicariously liable entity who was not independently negligent or otherwise at fault and who makes a payment in order to obtain a dismissal or release of liability of a single qualified health care provider for whom the payor is vicariously liable.  (iv) A medical review panel has determined that the qualified health care provider whose percentage of fault the board seeks to allocate failed to comply with the appropriate standard of care and that the failure was a cause of the damage or injury suffered by the patient, or a medical review panel has determined that there is a material issue of fact, not requiring expert opinion, bearing on liability of the qualified health care provider whose percentage of fault the board seeks to allocate for consideration by the trier of fact.  (v) The qualified health care provider does not object within thirty days after notice of the board's intention to allocate the health care provider's percentage of fault is delivered via certified mail to the plaintiff, the qualified health care provider, and the qualified health care provider's professional liability insurer or to their attorneys.  (vi) The court determines, after a hearing in which the qualified health care provider whose percentage of fault the board seeks to allocate shall be given an opportunity to appear and participate, that there has been collusion or other improper conduct between the defendant health care providers to the detriment of the interests of the fund.  (d) Except where the sum of one hundred thousand dollars has been paid by, in the name of, or on behalf of the qualified health care provider whose percentage of fault the board seeks to allocate, in any case in which the board is entitled pursuant to the provisions of Civil Code Article 2323 or 2324, or both, to assert a credit or offset for the allocated percentage of negligence or fault of a qualified health care provider, the board shall have the burden of proving the negligence or fault of the qualified health care provider whose percentage of fault the board seeks to allocate.  (e) In approving a settlement or determining the amount, if any, to be paid from the patient's compensation fund, the trier of fact shall consider the liability of the health care provider as admitted and established where the insurer has paid its policy limits of one hundred thousand dollars, or where the self-insured health care provider has paid one hundred thousand dollars.  (f) In each instance in which a claimant seeks to recover any sum from the board, each qualified health care provider or insurer or employer of a qualified health care provider who has made or has agreed to make any payment, including any reimbursement of court costs, medical expenses, or other expenses, to the claimant, the claimant's attorney, or any other person or entity shall be required, not later than ten days after the filing of the petition for approval of the settlement, to file and serve upon the board an answer to the petition for approval of the settlement which sets forth a complete explanation of each such payment, to include the identity of each payee, the identity of each entity by or on whose behalf each payment has been or is to be made, each amount paid or to be paid directly or indirectly by, on behalf of, or which has been or is to be attributed or allocated to any qualified health care provider, the purpose of each such payment, and the precise nature of any collateral agreement which has been made or is to be made in connection with the proposed settlement.  (6) Any settlement approved by the court shall not be appealed. Any judgment of the court fixing damages recoverable in any such contested proceeding shall be appealable pursuant to the rules governing appeals in any other civil court case tried by the court.  (7) For the benefit of both the insured and the patient's compensation fund, the insurer of the health provider shall exercise good faith and reasonable care both in evaluating the plaintiff's claim and in considering and acting upon settlement thereof. A self-insured health care provider shall, for the benefit of the patient's compensation fund, also exercise good faith and reasonable care both in evaluating the plaintiff's claim and in considering and acting upon settlement thereof.  (8) The parties may agree that any amounts due from the patient's compensation fund pursuant to R.S. 40:1231.4(B) be paid by annuity contract purchased by the patient's compensation fund for and on behalf of the claimant.  (9) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Part, any self-insured health care provider who has agreed to settle its liability on a claim and has been released by the claimant for such claim or any other claim arising from the same cause of action shall be removed as a party to the petition, and his name shall be removed from any judgment that is rendered in the proceeding. Such release shall be filed with the clerk of court in the parish in which the petition is filed upon the filing of a properly executed, sworn release and settlement of claim.  D.(1)(a) The Patient's Compensation Fund Oversight Board is hereby created and established in the office of the governor, division of administration. The board shall be comprised of nine members, appointed by the governor subject to Senate confirmation.  (b) Nine members of the board shall be a representative of and for one or more classes of health care providers enrolled in the fund, and the board's membership shall be apportioned according to the distribution of aggregate surcharges paid to the fund among the several classes of health care providers enrolled with the fund, as follows:  (i) Four members of the board shall be representatives of the class of health care providers contributing the greatest percentage of the fund's aggregate surcharges.  (ii) Two members of the board shall be representatives of the class of health care providers contributing the second greatest percentage of the fund's aggregate surcharges.  (iii) One member of the board shall be a representative of the class of health care providers contributing the third greatest percentage of the fund's aggregate surcharges.  (iv) One member of the board shall be appointed to represent all other classes of health care providers enrolled with the fund.  (c) The ninth member of the board shall be appointed from nominees provided by the principal professional insurance agents organizations and this member shall be familiar with property and casualty insurance and licensed in this state as a producer.  (d) Appointments of members representing a single class of health care providers shall be made from nominations solicited from the respective principal professional organizations of such health care providers in the state. The member of the board representing all other classes of health care providers shall be nominated by concurrence of the respective principal professional organizations of such health care providers in the state. In the absence of such concurrence each such professional organization shall name a representative to an ad hoc committee which shall, from among its number, nominate a representative to the board.  (e) For the purpose of apportioning representation on the board, the percentage surcharge contribution of each distinct class of health care providers listed by R.S. 40:1231.1 to the aggregate surcharges paid to the fund shall be calculated for each fiscal year of the fund, and apportionment with respect to an initial or subsequent appointment to the board shall be based on such percentage contributions for the fund fiscal year preceding any such appointment.  (f) Two of the initial members of the board appointed pursuant to Item (1)(b)(i) of this Subsection, one of the initial members appointed pursuant to Item (1)(b)(ii), and the member appointed pursuant to Item (1)(b)(iii) shall serve for terms of three years. One of the members of the initial board appointed pursuant to Item (1)(b)(i) of this Subsection and one of the initial members appointed pursuant to Item (1)(b)(ii) shall serve for terms of two years. The remaining members of the initial board shall serve for terms of one year. Thereafter, each member of the board shall serve for a term of three years, with any vacancy occurring in any such position being filled for the unexpired term of such position in the manner of the original appointment, in accordance with the apportionment of representation provided for by this Subsection.  (g) The board shall annually elect a chairman and secretary from among its members and shall meet not less frequently than quarterly during the calendar year on the call of the chairman at such times and places as he may designate.  (h) The members of the board shall receive seventy-five dollars per day while engaged in board business and for attendance at all meetings of the board. Reasonable expenses incurred by board members in their travel to and attendance at meetings of the board shall be reimbursed by the fund in accordance with applicable laws and administrative regulations. The members of the board shall not be reimbursed for any expenses incurred for board meetings outside of the state.  (2)(a) The board shall be responsible, and have full authority under law, for the management, administration, operation and defense of the fund in accordance with the provisions of this Part.  (b) In addition to other powers and authority expressly or impliedly conferred on the board by this Part, the board shall have the authority, to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of this Part, to:  (i) Collect all surcharges and other monies due the fund.  (ii) Establish and define the standards and forms of financial responsibility required of self-insured health care providers, and the standards and forms of malpractice liability insurance policies issued by admitted insurance companies and the standards, forms, acceptable ratings and other criteria for medical malpractice liability insurance policies issued by non-admitted insurance companies which are acceptable as proof of financial responsibility pursuant to R.S. 40:1231.2, as a condition to initial and continuing enrollment with the fund.  (iii) Collect, accumulate, and maintain claims experience data from enrolled health care providers and insurance companies providing professional liability insurance coverage to health care providers in this state, in the form necessary or appropriate to permit the board to determine appropriate surcharge rates for the fund.  (iv) Employ, or in accordance with the provisions of law applicable to contracting for personal, professional or consulting services, retain the services of a qualified competent actuary to perform the annual actuarial study of the fund required by this Section and to advise the board on all aspects of the fund's administration, operation and defense which require application of the actuarial science.  (v) Contract for any services necessary or advisable to implement the authority and discharge the responsibilities conferred and imposed on the board by this Part.  (vi) Employ, in the unclassified service, an appropriately qualified executive director and delegate to such executive director all or any portion of the authority for administration and operation of the fund vested in the board, subject to the superseding authority of the board.  (vii) Employ, in the unclassified service, an appropriately qualified claims manager and delegate to such claims manager all or any portion of the authority for the protection and defense of the fund vested in the board, subject to the superseding authority of the board.  (viii) Employ, or contract with, legal counsel to advise and represent the board and represent the fund in proceedings pursuant to this Part.  (ix) Employ such clerical personnel as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the responsibilities of the board under this Part.  (x) Defend the fund from all claims due wholly or in part to the negligence or liability of anyone other than a qualified health care provider regardless of whether a qualified health care provider has settled and paid its statutory maximum or has been adjudged liable or negligent.  (xi) Defend the fund from all claims arising under R.S. 40:1231.4(D)(2)(b)(x) and obtain indemnity and reimbursement to the fund of all amounts for which anyone other than a qualified health care provider may be held liable. The right of indemnity and reimbursement to the fund shall be limited to that amount that the fund may be cast in judgment.  (xii) Intervene as a matter of right, at its discretion, in any civil action or proceeding in which the constitutionality of this Part, R.S. 9:5628, R.S. 9:5628.1 or any other Louisiana law related to medical malpractice as defined in this Part is challenged.  (xiii) The right to apply the provisions of Civil Code Article 2323 or 2324, or both, to assert a credit or offset for the allocated percentage of negligence or fault of a qualified health care provider shall be governed by the provisions of Subparagraph (C)(5)(c) of this Section.  (xiv) Intervene as a matter of right, at its discretion, in any civil action or proceeding in which a health care provider files a dilatory exception of prematurity pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Article 926(A)(1) and the board reasonably believes either of the following:  (aa) Any health care provider is not qualified under this Part.  (bb) Any claim is not subject to this Part.  Any intervention and participation by the board in any civil action or proceeding pursuant to this Subparagraph shall be strictly limited to the health care provider's qualification status under this Part and whether the claim is subject to this Part. A copy of the exception and the petition for damages shall be sent by the health care provider filing the dilatory exception of prematurity to the board, via certified mail, return receipt requested, concurrently with serving the parties to the civil action or proceeding.  (xv) Intervene as a matter of right, at its discretion, in any civil action or proceeding involving malpractice as defined in R.S. 40:1231.1 in which either of the following occurs:  (aa) A self-insured health care provider is the subject of a liquidation, insolvency, receivership, or bankruptcy proceeding.  (bb) A health care provider's insurer is the subject of a liquidation, insolvency, receivership, or bankruptcy proceeding, the insurer has been discharged from the civil action or proceeding and the malpractice claim is not covered by the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association.  (xvi) Employ an appropriately qualified chief investment officer and delegate to him a portion of the authority vested in the board related to investments, subject to the superseding authority of the board.  (3) The board shall have authority, in accordance with applicable provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, to adopt and promulgate such rules, regulations and standards as it may deem necessary or advisable to implement the authority and discharge the responsibilities conferred and imposed on the board by this Part.  (4) All communications made and all documents and records developed by, between or among the attorney general, claims manager, the oversight board, any person or entity contracted to provide services to or on behalf of the fund under this Part, and enrolled health care providers and their insurers, relative to or in anticipation of defense of the fund or enrolled health care providers against, establishment of reserves with respect to, or prospective settlement of, individual malpractice claims shall be confidential and privileged against disclosure to any third party, pursuant to request, subpoena, or otherwise.  (5) Any meeting of the board or any portion of any meeting of the board which is restricted to consideration of and/or action upon pending or threatened claims against the fund or health care providers with the fund shall not be subject to the provisions of R.S. 42:11 through 28.  E. In any instance in which a complaint for bodily injuries to or death of a patient on account of malpractice has been filed in court and the parties enter into a stipulation prior to trial as to the amount of past medical expenses and related benefits and the amount exceeds one hundred thousand dollars, the parties shall also stipulate to the admissibility of the documents supporting the stipulated amount and shall introduce these documents into evidence at the trial for which the stipulation was entered into.  Added by Acts 1975, No. 817, §1. Amended by Acts 1976, No. 183, §4; Acts 1977, No. 261, §2; Acts 1979, No. 298, §1, eff. July 10, 1979; Acts 1984, No. 41, §1, eff. June 5, 1984; Acts 1984, No. 435, §4, eff. July 6, 1984; Acts 1986, No. 500, §1; Acts 1986, No. 636, §1; Acts 1988, No. 507, §1; Acts 1990, No. 967, §2, eff. Oct. 1, 1990; Acts 1991, No. 668, §1; Acts 1991, No. 800, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1258, §1; Acts 2001, No. 526, §1; Acts 2001, No. 725, §1, eff. June 25, 2001; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 86, §§1, 2; Acts 2003, No. 431, §1, eff. June 18, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 882, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 309, §1; Acts 2007, No. 459, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 558, §1; Acts 2010, No. 78, §1; Acts 2010, No. 411, §§1, 2, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2011, No. 160, §1; Acts 2011, No. 263, §1; Acts 2012, No. 802, §§1, 2; Acts 2013, No. 80, §§1, 2; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1299.44 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S. NOTE: See Acts 2013, No. 80, §2, relative to retroactivity.