2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 40:1300.242 — Powers and duties

§1300.242.  Powers and duties

A.  The commission shall:

(1)  Study issues relating to educating women on women's health. It shall focus on the delivery of and access to health and social services for women in the state.

(2)  Identify any gaps in the health and social services delivery system that particularly affect women and their access to health care services.

(3)  Study issues relative to affordability, availability, and why such services should be accessed.

(4)  Identify wellness and preventive efforts such as the types of critical screening tests (pap smears, mammograms and colorectal cancer detection) women should utilize, as well as factors relative to prevention, management and education about good health.

(5)  Study key health conditions, diseases, and causes of death for women.

(6)  Identify methods for communities to foster good health, efforts to bolster the economic security of women, to address the discrimination they face, to reduce injuries and to improve the environment in which they live.

(7)  Make recommendations to the Department of Health and Hospitals, other appropriate state agencies, and the legislature for improving the delivery of and access to health and social services for women.  The recommendations required by this Paragraph shall be submitted in a written report to the House and Senate committees on health and welfare not later than October 1, 2006.

(8)  Not promote or advocate abortion, abortafacia drugs or gun control. The commission shall, at all times, comply with R.S. 40:1299.34.

B.  The commission may:

(1)  Hold public hearings and conduct investigations, if necessary, to fulfill the mandates of Paragraphs (A)(1) through (6) of this Section.

(2)  Create committees and subcommittees from its membership as it may deem necessary to accomplish its purposes.

(3)  Employ a director and other staff necessary to carry out the provisions of this Part.  The director and other staff members employed by the commission shall be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.

Acts 2004, No. 644, §2.