The Senate Health and Welfare Committee on June 8 reported House Bill 541 as amended after lawmakers and the Louisiana Department of Health resolved language the department said would have let referred caregivers provide services without agency licensing or expanded background checks.

Scott Kirkpatrick, testifying for Dependable In Home Care, described the bill as a clarification to permit caregiver registries that match family members with private‑pay caregivers and to ensure registries are not limited in who may use them. He said the industry has operated in Louisiana for more than 50 years.

Kim Humboldt, general counsel for the Department of Health, told the committee amendment language that “includes the referred caregivers who perform services for referred individuals” was problematic. Humboldt said that phrase would mean caregivers on a registry could perform services outside licensed home‑and‑community‑based agencies, avoid expanded background checks, and skip training and DSW registration requirements.

Committee members removed that final phrase from amendment number 2 and adopted a new amendment set (30‑69) that preserved the caregiver‑registry exception but kept caregivers’ referral and oversight structure aligned with licensing and background‑check requirements, according to the department’s request.

After adoption of the amendment set, Senator Luno moved, and the committee reported, the bill as amended. Supporters who signed in included Scott Kirkpatrick and Joni Freeman of Dependable In Home Care, Pamela Allison of United Way and others.

The committee noted the bill is intended to cover private‑pay in‑home care referrals and to prohibit referrals to health care facilities; it does not authorize unlicensed providers to deliver services without the licensing or checks that apply to agencies.