§1057. Empowering Families to Live Well Louisiana Council and implementation plan

A. There is hereby established the Empowering Families to Live Well Louisiana Council to assist and empower struggling families throughout Louisiana. The council is hereby established within the Department of Children and Family Services which shall exercise and perform its powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities in the manner provided for agencies transferred in accordance with the provisions of applicable state law.

B. The council shall be composed of the following members:

(1) The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, or designee.

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

(3) The secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, or designee.

(4) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, or designee.

(5) The secretary of the Department of Economic Development, or designee.

(6) The secretary of the Department of Revenue, or designee.

(7) The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, or designee.

(8) The superintendent of the Department of Education, or designee.

(9) The executive director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation, or designee.

(10) The executive director of the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, or designee.

(11) The chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, or designee.

(12) The chair of the House Committee on Health and Welfare, or designee.

(13) Two members of the Senate, appointed by the Senate president.

(14) Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

(15) The president/CEO of the Louisiana Association of United Ways, or designee.

(16) The president of the Urban League of Louisiana, or designee.

(17) Two members representing regional economic development organizations, appointed by the governor.

(18) The president of the Louisiana AFL/CIO, or designee.

(19) One member of the Louisiana State University faculty with expertise in the area of poverty, appointed by the chancellor of the LSU system.

(20) One member of the Southern University system faculty with expertise in the area of poverty, appointed by the president of Southern University.

(21) One member of the University of Louisiana system faculty with expertise in the area of poverty, appointed by the president of the system.

(22) One member of a Louisiana-based philanthropic organization, appointed by the governor.

(23) One member of a Louisiana-based organization working to advance affordable housing, appointed by the governor.

(24) The executive director of the Louisiana Budget Project, or designee.

(25) The president of the Council for a Better Louisiana, or designee.

(26) The president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, or designee.

(27) The executive director of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference, or designee.

(28) The executive director of the Children's Cabinet, or designee.

(29) The chair of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board, or designee.

(30) Three at-large members appointed by the governor.

C.(1) The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, or designee, and a member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate president, shall serve as cochairs of the council.

(2) The council shall have as its purpose the goal of pursuing programs and policies which reduce deprivation and hardship, while promoting the well-being and health of all Louisianians. The council shall seek private sector funding to be used with public funds to support evidence-based, innovative solutions to poverty.

(3) The council may solicit guidance from in-state and national experts on the subject.

(4) The council shall seek funding for grant programs targeted at local government entities, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, and other qualified community-based organizations directly serving people in Louisiana.

(5) The council may work to develop mechanisms to coordinate assistance and services offered by state departments to best address the needs of families throughout the state.

D.(1) The council shall adopt such rules and procedures as it shall find necessary for the conduct of the activities and meetings of the council.

(2) No action shall be taken by the council except by a favorable vote of a majority of members present.

(3) The council shall elect such officers as it finds necessary.

(4) The council shall convene no less than six times per year.

(5) The council may establish subcommittees composed of a subset of council members, as needed.

E. Members shall serve without compensation or reimbursement of expenses, other than what may be afforded by their appointing authority. Legislative members of the council shall receive the same per diem and reimbursement of travel expenses as is provided for legislative committee meetings under the rules of the respective house in which they serve.

F. The council shall make, or cause to be made, all such studies, reviews, or analyses which it finds necessary for its purpose.

G. The council may receive and expend funds appropriated or otherwise made available by the legislature or from any other source, including donations or gifts of money or services from public or private organizations or from any other sources, to be utilized for the purposes of the council.

H. The council shall submit an implementation plan to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare and the House Committee on Health and Welfare, meeting jointly, for approval by June 30, 2019. The plan shall include administrative and legislative policy recommendations. An interim report may be filed prior to the 2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature with legislative recommendations.

I. Thereafter, the council shall present an annual report on the development of an implementation plan to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare and the House Committee on Health and Welfare, meeting jointly. This report shall include a section from each state department that is a member of the council, outlining administrative policy changes that can further the mission of the council. The report shall also include legislative recommendations. The report shall be submitted for approval to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare and the House Committee on Health and Welfare, meeting jointly, no later than January thirty-first of each year.

Acts 2018, No. 581, §1, eff. May 31, 2018.