§5.5.3. Seafood Safety Task Force; creation; purpose

            A. Within the Louisiana Department of Health there is hereby created the Seafood Safety Task Force, hereafter referred to as "task force". The task force shall be charged with obtaining: (1) the method in which the imported seafood is inspected in Louisiana; (2) the frequency of inspections of imported seafood; (3) the substances for which imported seafood are currently being tested; and (4) the results of sampling analysis of potentially harmful substances in imported seafood. The task force shall compile the results of these findings and develop seafood and safety recommendations to be reported to the House Committee on Health and Welfare, the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development, and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development by March 1, 2010.

            B. The task force shall be composed of the following members:

            (1) A member appointed by chairman of the House Committee on Health and Welfare who shall serve as chair of the task force or his designee.

            (2) A member appointed by chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare or his designee.

            (3) The commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry or his designee.

            (4) The chancellor of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center or his designee.

            (5) A representative of the Louisiana Poison Control Center.

            (6) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee.

            (7) A representative of the United States Food and Drug Administration.

            (8) A representative of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.

            (9) The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or his designee.

            (10) The secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality or his designee.

            (11) A representative of the Louisiana Restaurant Association.

            (12) A public health nutritionist.

            C. The task force shall convene for its first meeting no later than January 15, 2010. At this meeting the members shall elect a vice chairman and other officers as they deem appropriate.

            D. The task force shall meet at such times and at places it may designate. Meetings shall be held at the call of the chairman or at the call of a quorum of members upon not less than seven days notice. A majority of a quorum shall be present to transact any business. The members of the task force shall not be compensated for their services on the task force but may seek travel reimbursements from their respective agencies under their respective guidelines. Meetings of the task force shall be subject to laws regarding open meetings, and records of the task force shall be subject to laws regarding public records.

            E. The chair of the task force may appoint committees to fulfill the purposes of the task force. The chair of the task force shall appoint the chair of any committee and shall designate the functions and responsibilities of each committee appointed.

            Acts 2009, No. 330, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.