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The 2021 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session began on April 12th.

While the Louisiana Constitution dictates that it is a fiscal session, lawmakers are allowed to file five bills unrelated to finances.

Senate Bill 44 (“SB44”) has been introduced by Senator Peterson which provides for reporting and notification of releases of certain materials that cause an emergency condition.

SB44 has been referred to the Senate Committee of Environmental Quality and will be considered today.

SB44 requires owners and operators to immediately report any reportable release of any hazardous material regulated by present law which causes an emergency condition. The relevant Louisiana agency is required to utilize the public notification system upon receipt of such notification. Further, SB44 provides that any additional information required by rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to present law are required to be reported after a reasonable amount of time to take prompt measures to determine the nature, quantity, and potential off-site impact of release, considering the exigency of the circumstances.

SB44 would amend and reenact R.S. 30: 2363(10) and 2373(B)(2) and enact R.S. 30:2363(21) and 2365(A)(8) relative to the Louisiana “right-to-know law.”

A copy of SB44 can be downloaded here.