HLS 24RS-371 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 137
BY REPRESENTATIVE BRASS
CHILDREN: Provides relative to the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 46:2605(A) and (B)(7), (11), (13) through (16), (19), and (29)
3 and to enact R.S. 46:2605(G), relative to the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board; to
4 provide for membership of the board; to provide for duties of the board; to authorize
5 the board to establish subcommittees; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 46:2605(A) and (B)(7), (11), (13) through (16), (19), and (29) are
8hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 46:2605(G) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง2605. Children's Cabinet Advisory Board
10 A. The Children's Cabinet Advisory Board, hereinafter referred to as the
11 "advisory board", is hereby created. The purpose of the advisory board shall be to
12 provide information and recommendations from the perspective of advocacy groups,
13 service providers, and parents. Primary responsibilities of the Children's Cabinet
14 Advisory Board are:
15 (1) To ensure information sharing between governmental and
16 nongovernmental entities serving Louisiana's children.
17 (2) To make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet, through the
18 executive director, as requested by the Cabinet.
19 (3) To make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet, through the
20 executive director, as necessary as determined by the advisory board.
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HB NO. 137
1 (4) To make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet, through the
2 executive director, as to the budget priorities for the coming year and specific budget
3 items to be supported in the Children's Budget by September thirtieth. by August
4 thirty-first.
5 (5) To make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet, through the
6 executive director, as to specific budget items to be supported in the Children's
7 Budget by November thirtieth.
8 (6) To make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet, through the
9 executive director, as to specific programs with the greatest potential for reducing
10 child poverty and funding opportunities for the implementation of such programs.
11 (7) (6) To make an annual report to the legislature, the Senate Committee on
12 Health and Welfare, the House Committee on Health and Welfare, the Select
13 Committee on Women and Children, and any other legislative committee requesting
14 a copy of the annual report by January thirty-first. The report shall summarize the
15 well-being of Louisiana's children, the accomplishments of the past year, and
16 specific goals and priorities for the next fiscal year.
17 B. The advisory board shall be composed of the following members:
18 * * *
19 (7) The director of the State Head Start Collaboration Project or his designee.
20 * * *
21 (11) The assistant secretary of child welfare of the Department of Children
22 and Family Services or his designee.
23 * * *
24 (13) The assistant secretary of the office for citizens with developmental
25 disabilities of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee.
26 (14) The assistant secretary of the office of public health of the Louisiana
27 Department of Health or his designee.
28 (15) The assistant secretary of the office of behavioral health of the
29 Louisiana Department of Health or his designee.
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HB NO. 137
1 (16) The director of the bureau of health services financing of the Louisiana
2 Department of Health or his designee.
3 * * *
4 (19) The assistant secretary of the office of juvenile justice of the
5 Department of Public Safety and Corrections or his designee.
6 * * *
7 (29) State child ombudsman. A representative of the Louisiana Association
8 of Nonprofit Organizations.
9 * * *
10 G. The advisory board may establish subcommittees that include but are not
11 limited to an Ezekiel's Law subcommittee.
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 137 Original 2024 Regular Session Brass
Abstract: Provides for changes to the organization, reporting requirements, membership,
and authority of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board (board).
Present law directs the board to make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet as to
budget priorities for the coming year by Aug. 31 annually.
Present law directs the board to make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet as to
specific budget items to be supported in the Children's Budget by Nov. 30 annually.
Proposed law combines the board's recommendations to the Children's Cabinet as to budget
priorities and specific budget items into one recommendation required to be submitted
annually by Sept. 30.
Proposed law adds the state child ombudsman as a member of the board.
Proposed law repeals board membership for a representative of the La. Assoc. of Nonprofit
Organizations.
Proposed law permits the board to establish subcommittees including an Ezekiel's Law
subcommittee.
Proposed law grants the following board members the option to appoint a designee:
(1)The director of the State Head Start Collaboration Project.
(2)The assistant secretary of child welfare of the Dept. of Children and Family Services.
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HB NO. 137
(3)The assistant secretary of the office of citizens with developmental disabilities of the
La. Dept. of Health (LDH).
(4)The assistant secretary of the office of public health of LDH.
(5)The assistant secretary of the office of behavioral health of LDH.
(6)The assistant secretary of the bureau of health services financing of LDH.
(7)The assistant secretary of the office of juvenile justice of the Dept. of Public Safety
and Corrections.
(Amends R.S. 46:2605(A) and (B)(7), (11), (13)-(16), (19), and (29); Adds R.S. 46:2605(G))
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