2009 Louisiana Laws TITLE 36 Organization of the exective branch :: RS 36:251 Department of health and hospitals; creation; domicile; composition; purpose and functions

CHAPTER 6.  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS

§251.  Department of Health and Hospitals; creation; domicile; composition; purpose and functions

A.  The Department of Health and Hospitals is created and shall be a body corporate with the power to sue and be sued.  The domicile of the department shall be in Baton Rouge where it shall maintain its principal offices, but the secretary may maintain branch offices if he deems it in the best interest of the efficient administration of the department; however, the principal offices of the office of public health may be located and maintained in the parish of Orleans.

B.  The Department of Health and Hospitals, through its offices and officers, shall be responsible for the development and providing of health and medical services for the prevention of disease for the citizens of Louisiana.  The Department of Health and Hospitals shall provide health and medical services for the uninsured and medically indigent citizens of Louisiana.  The secretary and the chancellor of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center shall provide for coordination in the delivery of services provided by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center with those services provided by the Department of Health and Hospitals, local health departments, and federally qualified health centers, including but not limited to services for the mentally ill, for persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities, for those suffering from addictive disorders, public health services, and services provided under the Medicaid program.

NOTE:  Paragraph (C)(1) eff. until July 1, 2010; remains in effect after July 1, 2010, if the House and Senate Committees on Health and Welfare do not approve the implementation plan for the office of behavioral health by that date.  See Acts 2009, No. 384, §3, eff. July 1, 2010.

C.(1)  The Department of Health and Hospitals shall be composed of the executive office of the secretary, the office of management and finance, the office of public health, the office of mental health, the office for citizens with developmental disabilities, the office for addictive disorders, the office of aging and adult services, and such other offices as shall be created by law.

NOTE:  Paragraph (C)(1) as amended by Acts 2009, No. 384, §3, eff. July 1, 2010, if the implementation plan for the office of behavioral health is approved by the House and Senate Committees on Health and Welfare.

C.(1)  The Department of Health and Hospitals shall be composed of the executive office of the secretary, the office of management and finance, the office of public health, the office of behavioral health, the office for citizens with developmental disabilities, the office of aging and adult services, and such other offices as shall be created by law.

(2)  Whenever the secretary determines that the administration of the functions of the department may be more efficiently performed by eliminating, merging, or consolidating existing offices or establishing new offices, he shall present a plan therefor to the legislature for its approval by statute.

Acts 1976, No. 513, §1; Acts 1977, No. 83, §1, eff. June 22, 1977; Acts 1977, No. 681, §1; Acts 1978, No. 786, §4, eff. July 17, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 449, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1980; Acts 1983, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 13, §1, eff. July 1, 1983; Acts 1983, No. 659, §2; Acts 1984, No. 899, §1, eff. July 1, 1984; Acts 1984, No. 187, §1; Acts 1987, No. 736, §1; Acts 1988, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §2, eff. Mar. 28, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 772, §2, eff. July 17, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 858, §2, eff. July 18, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 140, §1, eff. June 22, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 159, §2; Acts 1990, No. 855, §1; Acts 1991, No. 390, §1, eff. not later than Jan. 1, 1992.*; Acts 1992, No. 571, §1, eff. July 1, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 712, §2, eff. June 21, 1993; Acts 1997, No. 3, §3, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 339, §2; Acts 1999, No. 802, §3, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2006, No. 465, §2, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2009, No. 384, §3, eff. July 1, 2010, if the implementation plan for the office of behavioral health is approved by the House and Senate Committees on Health and Welfare.

NOTE:  SEE ACTS 1984, NO. 187, §2.

NOTE:  SEE ACTS 1990, NO. 601, §§3-5.

NOTE:  SEE ACTS 1990, NO. 855, §§5 and 6.

*NOTE:  SEE ACTS 1991, No. 390, §§6, 7, and 8 for effective date.

NOTE:  ACTS 1997, NO. 3, provides for the transfer of state hospitals from the former La. Health Care Authority to the LSU Medical Center and for certain responsibilities of DHH.

NOTE:  See Acts 2006, No. 465, §4, relative to implementation.

NOTE:  See Acts 2009, No. 384, §5 relative to changes in office designations by the La. State Law Institute and Acts 2009, No. 384, §6 relative to effectiveness upon approval of implementation plan for the office of behavioral health.