DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 704 Original 2018 Regular Session Smith
Abstract: Provides for changes in the name, compositions, and termination date of the La.
Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C.
Present law creates the La. Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C within the office of the
governor and provides for the composition, duties, responsibilities, and functions of the commission.
Proposed law places the commission within the office of public health of the La. Dept. of Health and
changes the commission's name to the La. Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C Education,
Prevention, and Treatment. Reduces the number of commission members from 36 to 28. Provides
that the commission shall be composed of the following members:
(1)Twenty-one members shall serve at the governor's pleasure and shall be appointed by the
governor as follows:
(a)Two persons living with HIV, at least one of whom represents a racial or ethnic
subpopulation.
(b)Two persons living with hepatitis C, one of whom is co-infected with HIV and at
least one of whom represents a racial or ethnic subpopulation.
(c)One representative from a community-based provider organization which provides
services to persons living with HIV, and which represents a racial or ethnic
subpopulation.
(d)One medically qualified representative from a medical provider or community-based
provider organization which provides services to persons living with hepatitis C or
HIV, and which represents a racial or ethnic subpopulation.
(e)One representative from the La. Primary Care Association.
(f)One representative from the statewide HIV Community Planning Group.
(g)One nurse representative from the La. State Nurses Association who serves patients
with HIV or hepatitis C.
(h)One social worker representative from the La. Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
(i)Four Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act grantees consisting of
one Part A grantee, one Part B grantee, one Part C grantee, and one Part D grantee.
(j)Two representatives from the faith-based community.
(k)Three representatives from the La. Dept. of Health who have knowledge of policies
related to HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis C and who work in the office of public health,
office of behavioral health, and bureau of health services financing, respectively.
(l)One dean of a medical school in this state, or his designee.
(m)The dean of one of the colleges of pharmacy in this state or his designee who has an
affiliation with the HIV/AIDS or hepatitis C practice.
(2)Five members shall serve by virtue of their positions as follows:
(a)The state superintendent of education or his designee.
(b)The secretary of the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections or his designee.
(c)The commissioner of insurance or his designee.
(d)The president of the La. State Medical Society or his designee.
(e)The president of the La. Hospital Association or his designee.
(3)Two members shall be appointed as follows:
(a)One member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.
(b)One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House
of Representatives.
Proposed law eliminates the following members from the commission as constituted in present law:
(1)One representative from a community-based provider organization providing services to
persons infected with HIV.
(2)One medically qualified representative from a medical provider or community-based
provider organization providing services to persons infected with hepatitis C or HIV.
(3)One representative from the statewide HIV Community Planning Group. (4)One Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act grantee.
(5)One representative from the La. Psychological Association.
(6)One representative from the La. Interchurch Conference (replaced, per proposed law, with
two representatives from the faith-based community).
(7)One representative from a dental provider serving patients with HIV or hepatitis C.
(8)One representative from the La. Dept. of Health.
(9)The deans of the following schools, or their designees (replaced, per proposed law, with one
dean of a medical school in La., or his designee):
(a)The medical school of the La. State University Health Sciences Center at New
Orleans.
(b)The medical school of the La. State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport.
(c)The medical school of Tulane University.
Present law provides that the chairman of the commission shall be elected annually by the
commission members. Proposed law revises present law to provide that the chairman shall be
appointed by the governor.
Proposed law deletes present law providing that the chairman shall report directly to the governor.
Proposed law increases the minimum number of meetings that the commission is required to hold
annually from four to six. Deletes present law requiring that at least two of these meetings be for
the purpose of reviewing reports of the Ryan White Regional Consortia.
Proposed law changes the commission's termination date from September 1, 2017 to September 1,
2022.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 40:2018.1; Adds R.S. 36:259(M); Repeals R.S. 36:4(B)(1)(ee))