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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE BILL NO. 513
BY SENATOR HEITMEIER
HEALTH SERVICES. Provides for the Louisiana Obesity Prevention and Management
Commission. (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 36:259(OO) and R.S. 40:2018.4, relative to the creation of the Louisiana2
Obesity Prevention and Management Commission within the Department of Health3
and Hospitals; to provide for membership; to provide for the functions of the4
commission; to provide for termination of the legislative authority for the5
commission; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 36:259(OO) is hereby enacted to read as follows:8
§259. Transfer of agencies and functions to Department of Health and Hospitals9
* * *10
OO. The Louisiana Obesity Prevention and Management Commission11
(R.S. 40:2018.4) is placed within the Department of Health and Hospitals and12
shall exercise and perform its powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities as13
provided by or pursuant to law.14
Section 2. R.S. 40:2018.4 is hereby enacted to read as follows:15
§2018.4. Louisiana Obesity Prevention and Management Commission16
A. There is hereby established in the Department of Health and17 SB NO. 513
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Hospitals a commission designated the Louisiana Obesity Prevention and1
Management Commission ("commission"), composed of seven members as2
provided for in this Section. The commission may accept and expend grants3
and private donations from any source, including federal, state, public, and4
private entities, to assist it to carry out its functions.5
B. The powers, functions, and duties of the commission shall include but6
not be limited to the following:7
(1) Assisting the executive departments and agencies in achieving8
programmatic goals. To this end, the commission shall provide leadership and9
support for:10
(a) Organizational efforts found necessary to achieve programmatic11
objectives.12
(b) Articulating standards through the dissemination of materials,13
identification of expert opinion, identification of alternate means of developing14
effective population-based programs, and development of policy in identified15
health risks.16
(c) Creating awareness of health risks due to overweight and obesity17
conditions among payers, providers, and patients.18
(d) Enhancing reporting mechanisms of latest outcomes and health19
trends in the area of overweight and obesity concerns.20
(e) Conducting evaluations of program effectiveness.21
(f) Encouraging research and the identification of resources that seek22
ways to promote cost-effective methods of treating overweight and obesity23
conditions.24
(2) Assisting in conducting exploratory research as deemed necessary25
with the intent of achieving programmatic objectives.26
(3) Conducting public meetings to discuss obesity.27
(4) Advising and assisting participating agencies with the development28
and implementation of obesity programs.29 SB NO. 513
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(5) Analyzing what other entities across the state are doing to combat1
obesity.2
(6) Advising the executive departments and agencies as to the3
implementation of the commission's recommendations.4
C. The commission shall convene its first meeting no later than August5
thirty-first in each year. At the first meeting each year the chairman and vice6
chairman of the commission shall be appointed by the secretary of the7
Department of Health and Hospitals with the consultation and approval of the8
commission. The commission may adopt such rules of procedure as are9
necessary to facilitate orderly conduct of its business.10
D. The commission shall be composed of the following members:11
(1) The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, or his12
designee.13
(2) The state superintendent of education, or his designee.14
(3) The commissioner of insurance, or his designee.15
(4) A member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.16
(5) A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker17
of the House of Representatives.18
(6) The director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, or his19
designee.20
(7) The director of the Prevention Research Center at Tulane University,21
or his designee.22
E. Nonlegislative members of the commission shall not be entitled to per23
diem or any other compensation for their service but shall be entitled to24
reimbursement of any necessary and reasonable expense incurred in the25
performance of their duties on the commission, including travel expenses. Each26
legislative member of the commission shall receive the same per diem and travel27
reimbursement for attending meetings of the commission as is normally28
provided for members of the legislature.29 SB NO. 513
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F. The commission shall meet at least quarterly. Meetings shall also be1
held on call of the chairman or at the request of at least three members of the2
commission. Presence of a majority of the members of the commission shall3
constitute a quorum.4
G. The commission shall submit an annual report, including proposed5
legislation if necessary, to the governor and to the health and welfare6
committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, thirty days prior to the7
convening of each regular legislative session. The report shall update the8
legislature on the commission's progress toward full implementation of services9
and programs in the state to increase prevention and management of the disease10
of obesity in adults and children.11
H. The legislative authority for the existence of the commission shall12
cease on March 31, 2016.13
Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not14
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature15
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If16
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become17
effective on the day following such approval.18
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Christopher D. Adams.
DIGEST
Heitmeier (SB 513)
Proposed law provides for the creation of the Louisiana Obesity Prevention and Management
Commission (the commission) within the Department of Health and Hospitals.
Proposed law provides the commission with the following functions and duties:
(1)Assisting the executive departments and agencies in achieving programmatic goals.
(2)Assisting in conducting exploratory research as deemed necessary with the intent of
achieving programmatic objectives.
(3)Conducting public meetings to discuss obesity.
(4)Advising and assisting participating agencies with the development and
implementation of obesity programs. SB NO. 513
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
(5)Analyzing what other entities across the state are doing to combat obesity.
(6)Advising the executive departments and agencies as to the implementation of the
commission's recommendations.
Proposed law provides for the commission having seven members:
(1)The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, or his designee.
(2)The state superintendent of education, or his designee.
(3)The commissioner of insurance, or his designee.
(4)A member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.
(5)A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House
of Representatives.
(6)The director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, or his designee.
(7)The director of the Prevention Research Center at Tulane University, or his designee.
Proposed law provides nonlegislative members of the commission shall not be entitled to 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
commission, including travel expenses. Furthermore, each legislative member of the
commission shall receive the same per diem and travel reimbursement for attending
meetings of the commission as is normally provided for members of the legislature.
Proposed law provides the commission shall meet at least quarterly.
Proposed law provides the commission shall submit an annual report, including proposed
legislation if necessary, to the governor and to the health and welfare committees of the
Senate and House of Representatives, 30 days prior to the convening of each regular
legislative session.
Proposed law provides the legislative authority for the existence of the commission shall
cease on March 31, 2016.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 36:259(OO) and R.S. 40:2018.4)