HLS 25RS-847 ENGROSSED
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 316
BY REPRESENTATIVE BUTLER
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS: Provides for the Drug Policy Board
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 49:219.1, 219.2(B)(1)(introductory paragraph) and
3 (a)(introductory paragraph) and (xi) and (c)(i), (iii), and (viii) and (2), 219.3(A), and
4 219.4 and to enact R.S. 49:219.2(B)(1)(a)(xiv) and (xv), relative to the Drug Policy
5 Board; to provide for the policy and purpose of the board; to provide for the
6 membership of the board; to update and modernize language; and to provide for
7 related matters.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 49:219.1, 219.2(B)(1)(introductory paragraph) and (a)(introductory
10paragraph) and (xi) and (c)(i), (iii), and (viii) and (2), 219.3(A), and 219.4 are hereby
11amended and reenacted and R.S. 49:219.2(B)(1)(a)(xiv) and (xv) are hereby enacted to read
12as follows:
13 §219.1. Policy and purpose
14 A. It is the policy of the state to undertake every responsible effort, explore
15 every opportunity, invite every useful contribution, and expend every available
16 resource, to eliminate the abuse of drugs and alcohol and the damage to people and
17 institutions that results from such abuse. It is the policy of the state to take every
18 responsible action, explore all opportunities, invite meaningful contributions, and
19 utilize all available resources to eliminate substance and alcohol misuse along with
20 the resulting harm to individuals and institutions.
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1 B. In view of the policy of the state, it is the purpose of this Part to establish
2 a state agency organizationally positioned and structurally empowered to elicit,
3 motivate, advocate for, and coordinate the best efforts and ideas of all organizations,
4 agencies, entities, and individuals who volunteer or can be conscripted to make a
5 contribution toward the goal of eradicating drug and alcohol abuse and its poisonous
6 fruit. substance and alcohol misuse and its harmful consequences.
7 §219.2. Drug Policy Board; establishment; membership; selection; terms;
8 compensation; organization; domicile; procedure
9 * * *
10 B.(1) The board shall be composed of twenty-three twenty-five members.
11 (a) Thirteen Fifteen of the members shall be as follows:
12 * * *
13 (xi) The executive director director, or his designee, of the Safe and Drug-
14 Free Schools and Communities Program or his designee. office of drug policy within
15 the office of the governor.
16 * * *
17 (xiv) A representative from the Board of Regents specializing in collegiate
18 recovery education and behavioral health services.
19 (xv) An individual who has been in recovery for at least five years and is
20 actively engaged in substance use prevention and peer support efforts.
21 * * *
22 (c) The remaining eight members shall be appointed by the governor subject
23 to the confirmation of the Senate as follows:
24 (i) A representative of a private organization involved in substance abuse
25 prevention. or nonprofit organization located within this state providing substance
26 use education, treatment, and prevention.
27 * * *
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1 (iii) A representative of a federal agency with responsibilities in alcohol and
2 drug abuse education, treatment, or prevention. The director of the Louisiana
3 Supreme Court Drug and Specialty Court Office or his designee.
4 * * *
5 (viii) A physician representing the field of substance abuse misuse treatment
6 or substance abuse misuse prevention.
7 (2) The governor shall appoint persons who represent local and state
8 education agencies; drug substance and alcohol abuse misuse treatment or
9 rehabilitation facilities or programs; local, state, and federal law enforcement
10 agencies; and local, state, and federal judiciaries, and legal counsel to serve on the
11 task force in support of the drug policy board.
12 * * *
13 §219.3. Powers, duties, and functions; staffing; funding
14 A. The board shall:
15 (1) Identify, examine, select or develop, recommend or implement, drug
16 control policies and strategies to more effectively combat illegal drugs and drug,
17 substance, and alcohol abuse. misuse.
18 (2) Stress a coordinated approach emphasizing application, or needed
19 revisions, of enforcement capabilities targeting drug use, illegal drug misuse, sale,
20 and supply.
21 (3) Identify, examine, select or develop, recommend or implement, demand
22 reduction measures such as education, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, peer
23 support, harm reduction, and public awareness.
24 (4) Receive reports of the allocations and expenditures of all federal anti-
25 drug abuse substance misuse funds earmarked for education, treatment,
26 rehabilitation, prevention, and law enforcement.
27 (5) Evaluate how anti-drug monies both state and federal are utilized in
28 implementing anti-drug programs state and federal funds are utilized in
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1 implementing substance use prevention and related programs at the state and local
2 agencies.
3 (6) Evaluate changes in the methods or and priorities of the allocation of
4 funds to state and local agencies.
5 (7) Identify and evaluate the effectiveness of state and local public awareness
6 and drug prevention programs awareness, prevention, and harm reduction programs
7 addressing substance use in both the public and private sectors in order to develop
8 a series of recommendations for improving the effectiveness of such programs.
9 (8) Evaluate specific problem areas relating challenges related to the
10 enforcement of drug laws and make recommendations in order to improve the impact
11 of those laws through legislative refinement or executive order. substance use laws
12 and make recommendations to enhance effectiveness through legislative updates or
13 executive action.
14 (9) Assess the roles and interaction of federal, state, and local law
15 enforcement agencies and operations in combating drug abuse substance misuse and
16 trafficking, with recommendations for improving the effectiveness of multi-
17 jurisdictional operations throughout the this state.
18 (10) Provide an interim annual report to the governor regarding findings,
19 activities activities, and recommendations by July 1, 1991 and thereafter at least on
20 a quarterly basis or more often July first of each year and submit quarterly reports
21 if deemed necessary by the governor or the board.
22 (11) Develop long and/or and short range plans or strategies that prioritize
23 areas of need or otherwise organize the use of resources.
24 (12) Seek assistance or support from any state agency or private sector entity
25 which may be helpful in diminishing or eradicating drug substance and alcohol
26 abuse. misuse.
27 (13) Adopt and promulgate rules as may be necessary to implement
28 provisions of this Part.
29 * * *
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1 §219.4. Assistance and cooperation of other agencies; boards; use of facilities
2 All of the agencies, boards, commissions, and departments of the state and
3 any of its political subdivisions departments, and political subdivisions shall assist
4 the board in its work and furnish such by providing requested information, reports,
5 research, aid, services, and assistance as may be requested, all support without
6 imposing any cost or charge of any nature to the office. However, such required
7 assistance by agencies, boards, commissions, and departments support shall be
8 subject to the funding constraints of the said respective entity. The facilities of the
9 state library and Louisiana State University shall be made make facilities available
10 for use by the board. It shall be the duty of the The attorney general to give
11 assistance to shall assist the board and to render his opinion in writing provide
12 written opinions on any subject requested by the legislative fiscal officer.
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 316 Engrossed 2025 Regular Session Butler
Abstract: Modifies the membership of the Drug Policy Board and modernizes language.
Present law states that the Drug Policy Board (board) is composed of 23 members.
Proposed law increases the membership of the board to 25 members.
Proposed law removes the executive director of the Safe and Drug-Free School and
Communities Program or his designee and a representative of a federal agency with
responsibilities in alcohol and drug abuse education, treatment, or prevention from the board.
Proposed law adds all of the following members to the board:
(1)A representative from the Board of Regents.
(2)An individual who has been in recovery for at least five years and is actively
engaged in substance use prevention and peer support efforts.
(3)The executive director of the office of drug policy within the office of the governor
or his designee.
(4)The director of the Louisiana Supreme Court Drug and Specialty Court Office or his
designee.
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Present law provides that the board shall submit an interim report to the governor regarding
findings, activities, and recommendations by July 1, 1991, and submit quarterly reports
thereafter.
Proposed law modifies present law by requiring the board to submit an annual report
regarding findings, activities, and recommendations on July 1st each year and submit
quarterly reports if deemed necessary by the board or the governor.
Proposed law modernizes and updates language in present law.
(Amends R.S. 49:219.1, 219.2(B)(1)(intro. para.) and (a)(intro. para.) and (xi) and (c)(i),
(iii), and (viii) and (2), 219.3(A), and 219.4; Adds R.S. 49:219.2(B)(1)(a)(xiv) and (xv))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
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