§2634. Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Advisory Board; creation; membership

            A. There is hereby created the Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Advisory Board within the Louisiana Department of Health, office of aging and adult services.

            B. The Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Advisory Board shall be composed of thirteen members as follows:

            (1) The assistant secretary of the office of aging and adult services of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee.

            (2) A representative of an organization recognized for its work in advocacy programs for persons with traumatic brain injury, appointed by the governor from a list of names submitted by such organization.

            (3) A representative of an organization recognized for its work in advocacy programs for persons with spinal cord injury, appointed by the governor from a list of names submitted by such organization.

            (4) A psychologist nominated by the Louisiana Psychologists Association.

            (5) A survivor of a traumatic brain injury appointed by the governor.

            (6) A survivor of a spinal cord injury appointed by the governor.

            (7) A family member of a survivor of a traumatic brain injury appointed by the governor.

            (8) A family member of a survivor of a spinal cord injury appointed by the governor.

            (9) The president of the Louisiana State Medical Society or his designee.

            (10) The president of the Louisiana Hospital Association or his designee.

            (11) The speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives or his designee.

            (12) The president of the Louisiana Senate or his designee.

            (13) The director of Louisiana Rehabilitation Services within the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

            C. The terms of office of the appointed board members shall be four years. However, the governor shall appoint the original members as follows: three members for a term of three years and three members for a term of two years. A vacancy shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.

            D. The board shall meet and organize immediately after appointment of its members and shall elect a chairman from its membership and other officers it might deem appropriate. The board shall adopt rules for the orderly transaction of business and shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings, and determinations. Members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their duties at the rate provided state employees.

            E. The board shall meet at least once in each quarter of the fiscal year and as often as necessary thereafter as deemed by the chairman.

            F. Failure of appointed members to attend three consecutive meetings shall be cause for termination from the board and the position shall be deemed vacant by notifying the appropriate appointing party.

            G. The board shall be domiciled in East Baton Rouge Parish.

            H. The board shall serve in an advisory capacity to the office of aging and adult services of the department in all phases of administration by the department of the Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund.

            Acts 1993, No. 654, §1, eff. June 16, 1993; Acts 2003, No. 1153, §1; Acts 2010, No. 939, §8, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2012, No. 269, §2, eff. May 25, 2012; Acts 2024, No. 278, §2, eff. Feb. 1, 2025.