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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 112
BY REPRESENTATIVE HUNTER AND SENATOR THOMPSON
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to assess the viability of
establishing public health research centers in medically underserved areas of the state
through public-private partnerships for the purpose of studying certain prevalent
diseases and to report its findings to the legislative committees on health and
welfare.
WHEREAS, diabetes, sickle-cell anemia, Tay-Sachs disease, hypertension, and
Parkinson's disease are serious illnesses which are all too common and costly in this state;
and
WHEREAS, these illnesses can have severe detrimental impacts on the lives of
persons whom they afflict, and particularly on persons with low incomes who have
comparatively less access to prevention and treatment services; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana's public institutions of higher education are the state's most
valuable resource for scientific and social research; and
WHEREAS, many private entities also engage in scientific and social research, and
can serve as ideal partners in public interest endeavors such as improving public health; and
WHEREAS, the charge of the office of public health within the Department of
Health and Hospitals is to protect and promote the health of the communities of our state;
and
WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Hospitals is uniquely qualified to lead an
assessment of innovative ways to improve public health due to its abundance of expertise
and to its public purpose of serving those with the greatest health needs.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to assess the viability of ENROLLEDHCR NO. 112
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establishing public health research centers in medically underserved areas of the state
through public-private partnerships for the purpose of studying certain prevalent diseases.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the premises of the assessment shall include the
following:
(1) That the public health research centers would be operated through public-private
partnerships.
(2) That such centers would be physically located in communities which are
classified as medically underserved areas or which comprise medically underserved
populations according to the standards of the Health Resources and Services Administration
of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
(3) That the purpose of such centers would be to conduct research on incidence,
prevention, and treatment of prevalent illnesses, including but not limited to diabetes, sickle-
cell anemia, Tay-Sachs disease, hypertension, and Parkinson's disease.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in developing the assessment, the department
shall engage and seek input from the leadership of the Louisiana State University System,
the Southern University System, and the University of Louisiana System.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department shall report the findings of the
assessment in the form of a written report to the House Committee on Health and Welfare
and the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on or before December 31, 2012.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, the president of the Louisiana State
University System, the president of the Southern University System, and the president of the
of the University of Louisiana System.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE