Heitmeier (SB 513) Act No. 580
New law provides for the creation of the Louisiana Obesity Prevention and Management
Commission (the commission) within the Department of Health and Hospitals.
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.
Provides that the commission shall be composed of the following 10 members:
(1)The DHH secretary, 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.
(9)The director of the Cecil J. Picard Center for Child Development and Lifelong
Learning, or his designee.
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. Provides the
commission shall meet at least quarterly.
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.
Provides the legislative authority for the existence of the commission shall cease on March
31, 2016.
Effective upon signature of the governor (June 9, 2014).
(Adds R.S. 36:259(OO) and R.S. 40:2018.4)