2016 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 40 - Public Health and Safety
RS 40:2018.1 - Louisiana Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C

§2018.1. Louisiana Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C

            A. There shall be established within the office of the governor a commission which shall be designated the "Louisiana Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C", composed of thirty-six members, as provided in Subsection B of this Section.

            B.(1) Twenty-three members shall serve at the governor's pleasure and shall be appointed by the governor as follows:

            (a)(i) Two persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), at least one of whom represents a racial or ethnic subpopulation.

            (ii) Two persons infected with hepatitis C, where one person is co-infected with HIV, and at least one of whom represents a racial or ethnic subpopulation.

            (b)(i) Two representatives from community-based provider organizations providing services to persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, one of which represents a racial or ethnic subpopulation.

            (ii) Two medically qualified representatives from a medical provider or community-based provider organizations providing services to persons infected with hepatitis C or HIV, one of which represents a racial or ethnic subpopulation.

            (c) One representative from the Louisiana Primary Care Association.

            (d) Two representatives from the statewide HIV Community Planning Group.

            (e) One nurse representative from the Louisiana Nursing Association, who serves patients with HIV or hepatitis C.

            (f) One social worker representative from the Louisiana Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

            (g) Five Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act grantees consisting of one Part A grantee, one Part B grantee, one Part C grantee, one Part D grantee, and one representative of the Delta Region AIDS and Education Training Center.

            (h) One representative from the Louisiana Psychological Association.

            (i) One representative from the Louisiana Interchurch Conference.

            (j) One representative from a dental provider serving patients with HIV or hepatitis C.

            (k) The president of the Louisiana State Medical Society or his designee.

            (l) The president of the Louisiana Hospital Association or his designee.

            (2) Eleven members shall be appointed by the governor by virtue of their position as follows:

            (a) The state superintendent of education or his designee.

            (b) The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or his designee.

            (c) Four representatives from the Louisiana Department of Health, who have knowledge of policies related to HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis C, and who work in the office of public health, office of behavioral health, and the office of health services financing, respectively.

            (d) The commissioner of the Department of Insurance or his designee.

            (e) The deans of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans and Shreveport, or their designees who have an affiliation with the Infectious Disease Department.

            (f) The dean of the Tulane University School of Medicine or his designee who has an affiliation with the Infectious Disease Department.

            (g) The dean of one of the Colleges of Pharmacy in Louisiana or his designee who has an affiliation with the HIV/AIDS or hepatitis C practice.

            (3) Two members shall be appointed as follows:

            (a) One member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.

            (b) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

            (4) The governor shall strive for diversity in geography, race, sex, and educational background in appointing members to the commission. Each member appointed by the governor shall serve at his pleasure and shall be subject to Senate confirmation. The legislative members shall serve at the pleasure of the presiding officer of the respective legislative body.

            C. The chairman of the commission shall be elected annually by the commission members and shall serve as chairman without salary. The chairman shall report directly to the governor.

            D. The commission shall hold at least four regular meetings each year at a place designated by the chairman. At least two of these regular meetings shall be for the purpose of reviewing reports of the Ryan White Regional Consortia. The commission members shall be compensated for travel in connection with commission meetings and official commission business as approved by the chairman of the commission. Reimbursement for travel expenses shall be in accordance with the travel regulations of the division of administration. All meetings of the commission shall be convened in the state of Louisiana.

            E. The functions of the commission shall be to:

            (1) Serve as an advisory body to the governor and the Louisiana Department of Health on hepatitis C and HIV and AIDS related matters.

            (2) Serve as a coordinating forum on hepatitis C and HIV and AIDS related matters between and among state agencies, local government, and other nongovernmental groups.

            (3) Research and review all state regulations, guidelines, policies, and procedures relative to prevention and treatment and care of hepatitis C, HIV infection, and AIDS and, when appropriate, make recommendations to the governor, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, and the legislature.

            (4) Provide a forum for an annual public hearing on hepatitis C and HIV and AIDS related matters as well as a mechanism for other public comment and peer review on federal and state-funded programs related to hepatitis C, HIV, and AIDS.

            F. The commission may request administrative and technical support from the Louisiana Department of Health, office of the secretary, HIV program office, and the office of public health to carry out the commission's functions and responsibilities under this Section.

            G. The commission shall terminate on September 1, 2017.

            Acts 1991, No. 576, §2; Acts 1993, No. 291, §1, eff. June 2, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 185, §1; Acts 1997, No. 3, §5, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 811, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 624, §1; Acts 2005, No. 328, §2; Acts 2006, No. 154, §§1, 2; Acts 2008, No. 379, §1; Acts 2009, No. 384, §5, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 143, §1; Acts 2014, No. 192, §1.

            NOTE: See Acts 1995, No. 185, §4.