§2018.3. Louisiana Sickle Cell Commission

A. There shall be established within the Louisiana Department of Health a commission designated the "Louisiana Sickle Cell Commission", composed of eleven members as provided in Subsection B of this Section.

B.(1) Eight members shall be appointed by the governor, subject to Senate confirmation, from a list submitted by each of the following organizations:

(a) A representative from the Sickle Cell Center of Southern Louisiana, Tulane University School of Medicine.

(b) A representative from Children's Hospital, New Orleans.

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

(d) A representative from The Baton Rouge Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, Inc.

(e) A representative from the Northeast Louisiana Sickle Cell Anemia Technical Resource Foundation, Inc.

(f) A representative from the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc., Northwest Louisiana Chapter.

(g) A representative from the Sickle Cell Anemia Research Foundation, Alexandria.

(h) A representative from the Southwest Louisiana Sickle Cell Anemia, Inc.

(2) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, or his designee.

(3) Two members shall be appointed as follows:

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

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

(4) Each appointment by the governor shall serve at his pleasure. The legislative members shall serve at the pleasure of the presiding officer of the respective legislative body.

(5) The term of an appointee shall be four years. Any vacancy occurring in board membership shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.

(6) Nonlegislative members of the commission shall not be entitled to a per diem or any other compensation for their service but shall be entitled to reimbursement of any necessary and reasonable expense incurred in the performance of their duties on the panel, including travel expenses. Each legislative member of the commission shall receive a per diem and travel expenses equal to the per diem and travel expenses provided by law for members of the legislature.

(7) Meetings of the commission shall be held at the call of the chairman or on a petition of at least five members of the commission.

(8) At the first meeting of the commission, each year after its members assume their positions, the members shall select one of the commission members to serve as chairman and one of the commission members to serve as vice chairman, and each shall serve for a term of one year. The chairman shall preside at meetings of the commission, and in his absence, the vice chairman shall preside.

(9) The commission shall hold at least four regular meetings each year at the Louisiana Department of Health headquarters in Baton Rouge.

(10) The appointment of the initial members of the commission shall take place no later than October 1, 2013, and the commission shall convene its first meeting no later than November 1, 2013.

C. The Louisiana Department of Health shall provide administrative assistance to and serve as staff for the commission.

D. The functions of the commission shall be to:

(1) Ensure the delivery of sickle cell services to affected persons in all parishes in Louisiana and assist in establishing geographical service delivery boundaries.

(2) Promulgate guidelines for creating uniformity in the delivery of services and the management of statewide programs.

(3) Submit budget recommendations to the legislature and the governor.

(4) Prepare and publish an annual report on sickle cell that includes:

(a) An assessment of the programs and activities aimed at sickle cell.

(b) A description of the level of coordination existing between the state and private stakeholders in the management and treatment of sickle cell.

(c) The development of a detailed action plan for battling sickle cell.

(5) Direct the Sickle Cell Patient Navigator Program established by the provisions of R.S. 40:1081.8.

(6) Apply for grants and donations from any public or private source to implement the provisions of this Subsection.

Acts 2013, No. 117, §2; Acts 2015, No. 387, §1.