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Committee advances bill to designate electrical linemen as first responders during weather emergencies
Summary
The Senate Judiciary B Committee reported House Bill 80 favorably. The measure would grant electrical linemen first-responder status during weather emergencies; supporters said linemen perform dangerous, life-critical duties and stakeholders including Entergy and an energy services firm signaled support.
The Louisiana Senate Judiciary B Committee on Tuesday voted to report House Bill 80 favorably, a measure that would designate electrical linemen as first responders during weather emergencies.
Representative DeWitt, sponsor, said linemen respond in dangerous conditions after storms and “should be granted first responder status during these natural disasters.” He told the committee that linemen help keep “our lights on, our water running, and are also heroes on the front lines.”
Senator McMath asked whether similar bills had been filed in previous years; committee members said earlier efforts did not pass but that language was revised and stakeholders, including Entergy and Shelton Energy Services, now support the current bill.
No amendments were offered in committee. Senator McMath moved to report House Bill 80 favorably; there was no objection and the committee reported the bill favorably.
Representatives of Entergy and Shelton Energy Services submitted green cards in support and did not ask to speak. The committee recorded the bill as having cleared Judiciary B and moving forward to the next stage of the legislative process.
