§2025.3. Local overdose fatality review panels; membership

            A.(1) Each parish within Louisiana may establish a local overdose fatality review panel. Any review panel that is created shall operate in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

            (2) Two or more parishes may agree to jointly establish a multiparish overdose fatality review panel. Multiparish review panel members shall execute a memorandum of understanding between the parishes regarding membership, staffing, and operations.

            B. The local overdose fatality review panel shall be comprised of the following members. However, any of the following persons who declines, in writing, to participate shall not be counted toward the total membership of the panel nor toward calculating a quorum. The members provided in Paragraphs (8) through (13) of this Subsection shall be appointed by the chief executive of the parish governing authority.

            (1) The coroner or his designee.

            (2) The director of the regional human services district in which the parish is located or his designee.

            (3) The regional director of the Department of Children and Family Services, child welfare division for the region in which the parish is located or his designee.

            (4) The regional medical director for the office of public health, Louisiana Department of Health for the region in which the parish is located or his designee.

            (5) The parish district attorney or his designee.

            (6) The sheriff or his designee.

            (7) The chief of police or his designee.

            (8) A representative of a local jail or detention center.

            (9) A healthcare provider who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of substance use disorders.

            (10) A mental health provider who specializes in substance use disorders.

            (11) A representative of an emergency medical services provider in the parish.

            (12) A representative from parole, probation, and community corrections.

            (13) A representative of the judicial district court or drug court if the parish has a drug court.

            (14) The director of the local health department if the parish has a local health department or his designee.

            C. Any review panel established pursuant to this Part shall submit notice of formation to the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health through the human services district member represented on the panel. The department shall maintain a registry of active overdose fatality review panels in the state.

            D. The members of the review panel shall elect a chairman. The chairman may appoint additional persons to the review panel who are determined to have relevant knowledge regarding overdose fatalities and would aid the panel in fulfilling its duties.

            E. Panel members shall not receive compensation or a per diem for their services or attendance at panel meetings, except for those travel-related expenses already provided for by their agency.

            F. Meetings of a review panel shall be exempt from the provisions of R.S. 42:11 et seq.

            Acts 2024, No. 498, §1.