§2605.1. Council on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

            A. There is hereby established the Council on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, hereinafter referred to as the "council", as a subcommittee of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board. The domicile of the council shall be in the parish of East Baton Rouge.

            B. The council shall be composed of the following members:

            (1) The executive director of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board, or his designee.

            (2) Three members representing the Department of Children and Family Services appointed by the secretary of the department, one of whom shall be a representative of the kinship care subsidy program, one of whom shall be a representative of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and one of whom shall be a representative of the foster care program.

            (3) Two members representing the Louisiana Department of Health appointed by the secretary of the department, one of whom shall be a representative of the behavioral health program, and one of whom shall be a representative of the Medicaid eligibility program.

            (4) A member representing the Department of Education appointed by the superintendent, who shall be a representative of the child care assistance program.

            (5) The secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, or his designee.

            (6) The deputy secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Youth Services, office of juvenile justice, or his designee.

            (7) A member of the Senate to be appointed by the president of the Senate.

            (8) A member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

            (9) The executive director of the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, or his designee.

            (10) The president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, or his designee.

            (11) One member representing and appointed by Agenda for Children.

            (12) One member representing and appointed by Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana.

            (13) One member representing and appointed by the Louisiana Children's Trust Dedicated Fund Account.

            (14) At least five citizens who have demonstrated a commitment to the rearing of grandchildren by grandparents, to be nominated by the executive director of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board and approved by the council.

            (15) One member representing and appointed by the National Association of Social Workers - Louisiana.

            (16) One member representing and appointed by LouisianaChildren.org.

            (17) One member representing and appointed by the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

            (18) One member representing and appointed by the Louisiana State Bar Association.

            (19) One representative of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana.

            (20) One member representing and appointed by the Access to Justice Committee of the Louisiana State Bar Association.

            (21) The president of the Louisiana Head Start Association, or his designee.

            C. Members of the council shall serve four-year terms and shall not receive any compensation or reimbursement of expenses. Each member of the council shall hold office until the appointment and qualification of his successor. Whenever a vacancy occurs in an appointed position, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as required for the original appointment.

            D. Meetings of the council shall be held in the city of Baton Rouge. At the first meeting each year the chair and vice chair of the council shall be appointed by the executive director of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board with the consultation and approval of the council. The council may adopt such rules of procedure as are necessary to facilitate orderly conduct of its business.

            E. The council shall meet at least quarterly. Meetings shall be held on the call of the chair or at the request of at least three members of the council. A majority of the council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All official actions of the council shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum.

            F. All departments, boards, agencies, officers, and institutions of the state and all subdivisions thereof shall cooperate with the council in carrying out its purposes pursuant to R.S. 46:2605.1 through 2605.3.

            G. The council shall make, or cause to be made, all such studies, reviews, or analyses which it finds necessary to effect its purpose.

            H. The council may receive and expend funds appropriated or otherwise made available by the legislature or from any other source, including donations or gifts of money or services from public or private organizations or from any other sources, to be utilized for the purposes of the council and as further provided in R.S. 46:2605.3.

            Acts 2016, No. 301, §2, eff. June 2, 2016; Acts 2021, No. 114, §18, eff. July 1, 2022.