With the legislative session coming to a close on June 1st, we are left with one final opportunity to ensure Representative Emily Chenevert's HB775 is not enacted into law: ask Governor Landry to veto HB775. 

HB775 has been flawed from its inception and only managed to get worse as the session progressed.  Our initial concern centered on the lowering of the age of medical consent from 18 to 17 and the ability of minors of any age to get vaccines (HPV, Hep B, and any future vaccine) for sexually transmitted illnesses (STI).  Thanks to your advocacy, the age was amended in Senate Health and Welfare to align with LA Civil Law, but Rep. Chenevert included in the amendments a change in the definition of who could consent on the minor's behalf and removed any legal necessity to confirm who was presenting the minor for treatment. 

From "any person who has been granted legal authority" in the original bill to "any person professing to be serving as temporary custodian or caregiver...at the request of a parent or legal guardian" in the final version of the bill. To add insult to injury, "any person professing to be serving as temporary custodian or caregiver" is EQUAL TO the parent or legal guardian.

Additionally, a healthcare provider "may rely in good faith on the representation of a person professing to be serving as temporary custodian or caregiver" and "a healthcare provider or healthcare facility relying on the representations of a temporary custodian or caregiver under this Section shall have no affirmative duty to investigate, verify, or confirm the legal authority of the person professing to be serving as temporary custodian or caregiver..."

In summary: ANYONE can seek medical care for ANY minor for ANY reason and the healthcare provider and facility are free from criminal and civil liability. 

From the Senate committee to the Senate floor, we did manage to get two significant changes to the bill, thanks to Senator Thomas Pressly, who carried the bill in the Senate. 

• First, the bill was amended to exclude students who are dual enrolled from being considered the age of majority.  
• Second, STI vaccines are excluded from those minors seeking prevention of STIs. 

Despite these significant wins and the amended age to 18, this bill still poses a threat to minor and parental rights. 

Please join us in asking Governor Landry to veto Rep. Chenevert's HB775.