2014 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 28 - Mental Health
RS 28:863 - Governing board; membership; appointment; terms; compensation

§863. Governing board; membership; appointment; terms; compensation

A. The district shall be governed by a board of nine members. The board shall include seven residents from the parish of Orleans and one resident each from the parishes of St. Bernard and Plaquemines.

B. The members shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of each parish subject to the approval of the governing authority of each parish. Five members shall be professionals in the fields of mental health, developmental disabilities, or addictive disorders. Two members shall be advocates with a history of involvement and active in one or more of the three areas of service. Two members shall be consumers who receive or have received services in one or more of the three service areas provided by the district. Board members representing Orleans Parish shall consist of a minimum of three professionals, one consumer and one advocate.

C. Initial appointments to the board shall be for terms as follows: one resident from each parish shall be appointed for an initial term of three years; three additional residents from Orleans Parish shall be appointed for an initial term of two years; three additional residents from Orleans Parish shall be appointed for an initial term of one year. Thereafter, each term shall be for three years. No board member shall serve more than two consecutive three-year terms after his initial term.

D. The chairman shall be elected by the board for a term established under the bylaws of the board.

E. Each board member shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses and mileage at the same rate set by the division of administration for state employees for each day in actual attendance at board meetings or for representing the board in an official board-approved activity.

F. No member of the board or of his immediate family shall own or have any interest or part in any public or private organization, business, company, or entity conducting business of any kind with the district.

G. The board shall adopt bylaws to provide for the governance of the board within ninety days of being established. Such bylaws shall include but not be limited to:

(1) Procedures for the election of board officers, including terms of office and methods and grounds for removal.

(2) Procedures and grounds for the removal of any board member. Grounds for removal shall include conviction of a felony or may include failure to meet board attendance as provided in the bylaws.

H. Procedures for filling a vacancy created by the removal, resignation, or death of any board member prior to the end of the board member's term shall follow those used for initial appointments.

I. All members of the board and employees of the district shall be subject to the Code of Governmental Ethics.

Acts 2003, No. 846, §2, eff. July 1, 2003.