2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 192
BY SENATOR JACKSON
A RESOLUTION
To create and provide for the Task Force on Maternal Health to study how to improve
maternal health outcomes for women, ways to reduce maternal death rates and
preterm birth rates, particularly among black women and children, and specific laws
that may need to be amended to provide greater resources to pregnant mothers and
their children, and report findings to the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana no
later than February 15, 2024.
WHEREAS, the wonders of pregnancy and childbirth can be the beginning joys of
motherhood for many that leads to a lifetime of happiness and fulfillment; and
WHEREAS, some women, however, may experience avoidable pregnancy and
childbirth difficulties with short-term, long-term, and dangerous complications that may
even result in death; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana has one of the highest incidences of maternal mortality and
preterm births in the nation, especially among minority and low income women; and
WHEREAS, according to a study conducted in 2020 by the United States Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, black women are more likely than white women to
experience preventable maternal death and the maternal mortality rate for black women was
more than fifty-five deaths per one hundred thousand live births; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana's maternal mortality rates are four times higher for black
women, with fifty-nine percent of black maternal deaths deemed preventable while nine
percent of white maternal deaths were deemed preventable; and
WHEREAS, the maternal death rates and preterm birth rates, particularly among
black woman and children, are an important public health issue in Louisiana that requires
further study; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana and several other states have either filed legislative
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instruments or amended their tax codes to afford equal tax treatment to pregnant women with
unborn children that exists for all mothers with dependent minor children after live birth; and
WHEREAS, the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana finds that more study is
needed to research the current provisions of law that may need to be amended to afford
women and their unborn children with greater resources and chances of survival after birth.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
hereby establish and provide for the Task Force on Maternal Health to study how to improve
maternal outcomes for women, ways to reduce the maternal death rates and preterm birth
rates, particularly among black women and children, and specific laws that may need to be
amended to provide greater resources to pregnant mothers and their unborn and preterm
children, and submit a written report of its findings, together with specific proposals for
legislation to the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana and to the David R. Poynter
Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:771 and 772, no later than February 15,
2024.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall consist of the following
members:
(1) The senator for Senate District 34 who shall serve as chairman of the task force.
(2) The chair of the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children.
(3) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee.
(4) A practicing member of the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, who is licensed and practicing medicine in Louisiana.
(5) A practicing member of the National Medical Association, who is licensed and
practicing medicine in Louisiana.
(6) A family court judge appointed by the president of the Louisiana Council of
Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
(7) The president of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance or his designee.
(8) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue or his designee.
(9) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services or
his designee.
(10) A practicing member of the American College of Nurse Midwives, who is
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licensed and practicing medicine in Louisiana.
(11) A member of the Louisiana Affiliate of the American College of Nurse
Midwives, who is licensed and practicing medicine in Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each designating authority shall submit the
names of designees to the task force to the senator for Senate District 34 no later than
August 1, 2023.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the executive director of the Senate Legislative
Services shall assign staff support to the task force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the task force shall convene for its first meeting no
later than August 31, 2023, at the call of the senator for Senate District 34, and at the first
meeting, the members shall elect other officers as the task force may deem appropriate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the task force shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business and all official actions of the task force shall require
the affirmative vote of a majority of the members.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
without compensation, except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be
individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall terminate on the date of the
submission of its report or February 15, 2024, whichever occurs first.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
senator for Senate District 34, the chair of the Senate Select Committee on Women and
Children, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, the executive director of the
Louisiana Right to Life, the executive director of Louisiana Black Advocates for Life, the
Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the president of the Black Mamas
Matter Alliance, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue, and the secretary
of the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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