§917. Human Services Interagency Council; membership and responsibilities

            A. There shall be a human services interagency council established by the department to provide policy guidance to the department in the ongoing operations of the districts and authorities. The council shall be chaired by the secretary of the department or his designee and shall include the assistant secretaries of the office of behavioral health, office for citizens with developmental disabilities, office of public health, office of aging and adult services, as well as the director of Medicaid or his designee, the executive directors of the districts and authorities, and other members as deemed appropriate by the council.

            B. The purpose of the council meetings shall be to share information between the state and the districts and authorities and among the districts and authorities. All council members shall have the opportunity to present information, request information, and engage in dialogue regarding any matter before the council.

            C. The council shall meet at least once quarterly, but may meet more often if called by the chair. The council shall meet at locations that rotate throughout the state, as appropriate, to provide ease of travel for the members of the council. A quorum is not required and council members may participate by phone during any meeting in which a vote of the council members is not being requested, but a quorum shall be required for any vote to be taken on a matter before the council.

            D.(1) Beginning February 1, 2018, the secretary shall submit a single comprehensive annual report on the operations of the districts and authorities to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare. The annual report shall include a detailed list of the services provided and populations served by each district or authority, a financial summary of the operations of each district or authority, and other information demonstrating the performance of each district or authority for the previous fiscal year. The report shall include the secretary's assessment and recommendations based on the data in the report. The report shall also include recommendations by the council and recommendations of any individual district or authority in the event that they wish to provide additional information or commentary regarding the data in the report. The report shall also include information on the meetings of the council and recommendations on how to build upon the work of the council.

            (2) Within thirty days of receipt of the report by the House and Senate committees on health and welfare, either committee may issue notice of intent to convene a hearing separately or jointly for the purpose of conducting a public hearing on the report that was submitted. The department and each human services district or authority may be called collectively or independently to appear before the committee.

            E. At least once annually, the council shall convene a meeting to include the board chairman or his designee from each of the ten human services districts and authorities. All board members from each of the ten human services districts and authorities shall have the opportunity to participate if they so choose. This meeting shall be hosted by the Louisiana Department of Health at its central office in Baton Rouge. The purpose of this meeting shall include but is not limited to facilitating and fostering the exchange of best practices to ensure that each district or authority throughout the state is maximizing service delivery in their statutory governance area. Each board chairman, or his designee board member, shall give a presentation on the status of service delivery in his district or authority and shall include specifics on practices that are yielding the best results regarding scope of service and client access. All statewide board members shall have the opportunity to learn from the council and other board members and obtain knowledge on best practices through discussion and dialogue at this annual meeting.

            Acts 2008, No. 373, §2, eff. June 21, 2008; Acts 2017, No. 73, §1, eff. June 7, 2017.