ENROLLED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 137
BY REPRESENTATIVE BRASS
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 46:2602(B)(1) through (6) and (13) and 2605(A) and (B)(7),
3 (11), (13) through (16), (19), and (29) and to enact R.S. 46:2605(B)(42) and (G),
4 relative to the Children's Cabinet and the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board; to
5 provide for membership of the cabinet; to provide for membership of the board; to
6 provide for duties of the board; to authorize the board to establish subcommittees;
7 and to provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 46:2602(B)(1) through (6) and (13) and 2605(A) and (B)(7), (11),
10 (13) through (16), (19), and (29) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 46:2605(B)(42)
11 and (G) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 §2602. Children's Cabinet; creation; purpose
13 * * *
14 B. The cabinet shall be composed of the following members:
15 (1) The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services or his
16 designee.
17 (2) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee.
18 (3) The deputy secretary for youth services of the Department of Public
19 Safety and Corrections or his designee.
20 (4) The secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission or his designee.
21 (5) The state superintendent of education or his designee.
22 (6) The commissioner of administration or his designee.
23 * * *
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1 (13) The secretary of the Department of Economic Development or his
2 designee.
3 * * *
4 §2605. Children's Cabinet Advisory Board
5 A. The Children's Cabinet Advisory Board, hereinafter referred to as the
6 "advisory board", is hereby created. The purpose of the advisory board shall be to
7 provide information and recommendations from the perspective of advocacy groups,
8 service providers, and parents. Primary responsibilities of the Children's Cabinet
9 Advisory Board are:
10 (1) To ensure information sharing between governmental and
11 nongovernmental entities serving Louisiana's children.
12 (2) To make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet, through the
13 executive director, as requested by the Cabinet.
14 (3) To make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet, through the
15 executive director, as necessary as determined by the advisory board.
16 (4) To make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet, through the
17 executive director, as to the budget priorities for the coming year and specific budget
18 items to be supported in the Children's Budget by September thirtieth. by August
19 thirty-first.
20 (5) To make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet, through the
21 executive director, as to specific budget items to be supported in the Children's
22 Budget by November thirtieth.
23 (6) To make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet, through the
24 executive director, as to specific programs with the greatest potential for reducing
25 child poverty and funding opportunities for the implementation of such programs.
26 (7) (6) To make an annual report to the legislature, the Senate Committee on
27 Health and Welfare, the House Committee on Health and Welfare, the Select
28 Committee on Women and Children, and any other legislative committee requesting
29 a copy of the annual report by January thirty-first. The report shall summarize the
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1 well-being of Louisiana's children, the accomplishments of the past year, and
2 specific goals and priorities for the next fiscal year.
3 B. The advisory board shall be composed of the following members:
4 * * *
5 (7) The director of the State Head Start Collaboration Project or his designee.
6 * * *
7 (11) The assistant secretary of child welfare of the Department of Children
8 and Family Services or his designee.
9 * * *
10 (13) The assistant secretary of the office for citizens with developmental
11 disabilities of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee.
12 (14) The assistant secretary of the office of public health of the Louisiana
13 Department of Health or his designee.
14 (15) The assistant secretary of the office of behavioral health of the
15 Louisiana Department of Health or his designee.
16 (16) The director of the bureau of health services financing of the Louisiana
17 Department of Health or his designee.
18 * * *
19 (19) The assistant secretary of the office of juvenile justice of the
20 Department of Public Safety and Corrections or his designee.
21 * * *
22 (29) State child ombudsman, who shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio
23 member. A representative of the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations.
24 * * *
25 (42) A representative of the Louisiana Occupational Therapy Association.
26 * * *
27 G. The advisory board may establish subcommittees that include but are not
28 limited to an Ezekiel's Law subcommittee.
29 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
30 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
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1 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
2 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
3 effective on the day following such approval.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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