RS 46:1974     

§1974. Requirements for documentation produced by healthcare providers; prohibitions

            A. No healthcare provider shall produce documentation relating to an individual's need for a support animal unless the healthcare provider complies with all of the following:

            (1) Possesses an active and valid Louisiana license or an active license within a healthcare profession that has a licensure compact to perform the healthcare services being offered to an individual.

            (2) Is qualified and licensed to evaluate and diagnose disabilities and has performed a disability assessment of an individual.

            (3) Includes in the documentation relating to an individual's need for a support animal all of the following:

            (a) The effective date of the documentation.

            (b) The license number of the healthcare provider.

            (c) The type of professional license held by the healthcare provider.

            (4) Establishes a therapeutic relationship with an individual no less than thirty days prior to producing the documentation regarding the individual's need for a support animal.

            (5) Has engaged with an individual in person or remotely in at least two sessions before issuing documentation determining that the individual requires a support animal.

            (6) Performs a clinical evaluation of an individual no less than thirty days before producing documentation regarding the individual's need for a support animal.

            B. No healthcare provider shall represent or attempt to represent that an individual has a disability requiring a support animal when an individual is not disabled or does not need a support animal on account of the individual's disability.

            C. No individual shall represent or attempt to represent to a third party that the individual has a disability requiring a support animal when the individual is not disabled or does not require a support animal on account of the individual's disability.

            Acts 2024, No. 558, §1.