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2021 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 72
BY SENATORS CARTER, BARROW, BOUDREAUX, LUNEAU, MIZELL, POPE,
TARVER AND WARD
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT. Creates the office on women's health within the Louisiana
Department of Health. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 36:251(C)(1) and to enact R.S. 36:258(E) and R.S. 46:2527,
3 relative to the office on women's health; to establish and provide for the office on
4 women's health within the Louisiana Department of Health; to provide for an
5 assistant secretary and staff of the office on women's health; to provide for the
6 purposes, duties, and functions of the office on women's health; to provide for an
7 effective date; and to provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 36:251(C)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 36:258(E)
10 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §251. Louisiana Department of Health; creation; domicile; composition; purpose
12 and functions
13 * * *
14 C.(1) The Louisiana Department of Health shall be composed of the
15 executive office of the secretary, the office of management and finance, the office
16 of public health, the office of behavioral health, the office for citizens with
17 developmental disabilities, the office of aging and adult services, the office on
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 72
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1 women's health, and such other offices as shall be created by law.
2 * * *
3 §258. Offices; purposes and functions
4 * * *
5 E. The office on women's health shall be responsible for leading,
6 consolidating, and coordinating efforts across the state geared toward
7 improving women's health outcomes through policy, education, evidence-based
8 practices, programs, and services.
9 * * *
10 Section 2. R.S. 46:2527 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §2527. Office on women's health; assistant secretary; duties and functions
12 A. The office on women's health is hereby created in the Louisiana
13 Department of Health. The office shall perform the duties and functions
14 assigned to it in Subsection C of this Section or as otherwise provided by law.
15 B. The office on women's health shall be under the immediate
16 supervision of an assistant secretary appointed by the governor in accordance
17 with the provisions of R.S. 36:257. The assistant secretary shall employ
18 necessary staff to carry out the duties and functions of the office as provided in
19 this Section or as otherwise provided by law.
20 C. In carrying out its purposes as provided for in R.S. 36:258, the office
21 on women's health shall do all of the following:
22 (1) Educate and advocate for women's health by establishing, either on
23 its own or in partnership with other entities, appropriate forums, programs, or
24 initiatives designed to educate the public regarding women's health, with an
25 emphasis on preventive health and healthy lifestyles.
26 (2) Identify, coordinate, and establish priorities for programs, services,
27 and resources for women's health issues and concerns.
28 (3) Serve as a clearinghouse and resource regarding women's health
29 data, strategies, services, and programs that address women's health issues.
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1 (4) Collect, classify, and analyze relevant research information and data
2 conducted or compiled by the Louisiana Department of Health or other
3 collaborative entities and provide persons with information regarding the
4 research results, except as prohibited by law.
5 (5) Develop and recommend funding and program activities for
6 educating the public on women's health initiatives relating to the social
7 determinants of health including all of the following:
8 (a) Health needs throughout a woman's life.
9 (b) Chronic conditions that significantly affect women, such as heart
10 disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.
11 (c) Access to health care for women.
12 (d) Poverty and women's health.
13 (e) The leading causes of morbidity and mortality for women.
14 (f) Health disparities of women.
15 (6) Make recommendations to the secretary of the Louisiana Department
16 of Health regarding programs that address women's health issues for inclusion
17 in the department's budget and strategic planning.
18 (7) Seek funding from private or other governmental entities to carry out
19 the purposes, duties, and functions of the office on women's health.
20 (8) Prepare materials for publication and dissemination to the public on
21 women's health.
22 (9) Conduct public educational forums in Louisiana to raise public
23 awareness and to educate citizens about women's health programs, issues, and
24 services.
25 (10) Coordinate the activities and programs of the office on women's
26 health with other entities that focus on women's health or women's issues.
27 (11) Provide an annual report to the governor, legislature, and secretary
28 of the Louisiana Department of Health on the priorities and services needed for
29 women's health in Louisiana, and areas for improvement.
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1 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
2 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
3 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
4 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
5 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Brandi Cannon.
DIGEST
SB 72 Engrossed 2021 Regular Session Carter
Proposed law provides for the office on women's health within the Louisiana Department
of Health which shall be responsible for leading, consolidating, and coordinating efforts
across the state geared toward improving women's health outcomes through policy,
education, evidence-based practices, programs, and services, and provides for the assistant
secretary, staff, and duties and functions of the office.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 36:251(C)(1); adds R.S. 36:258(E) and R.S. 46:2527)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill
1. Makes technical changes.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.