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.
(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 nine 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)The president of the Senate, or his designee.
(5)The speaker of the House of Representatives, or his designee
(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.
(8)Two members from community-based groups elected by the other commission members
at their first meeting. 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, 60 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)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill
1. Provides for two members of the commission from community-based groups
elected by the other commission members at their first meeting.
2. Provides for the president of the Senate, or his designee, and the speaker of the
House of Representatives, or his designee, to be members of the commission.
3. Provides for the first meeting of the commission to be held no later than August
31, 2014.
4. Changes the reporting requirement of the commission to the legislature to be no
later than sixty days before the convening of the regular session.