Louisiana Commission on Addictive Disorders

CHAPTER 37. LOUISIANA COMMISSION ON

ADDICTIVE DISORDERS

§2500. Legislative findings and intent

The legislature finds:

(1) That addictive disorders are diseases;

(2) That those diseases are preventable and treatable; and

(3) That there exists a need for a state commission to direct attention to and foster greater awareness and understanding of addictive disorders.

Acts 1984, No. 899,§ 2, eff. July 1, 1984; Acts 1999, No. 570,§ 1.

2501. Louisiana Commission on Addictive Disorders; creation; membership; terms of office; qualifications; appointment

There is hereby created within the office for addictive disorders a commission to be known as the Louisiana Commission on Addictive Disorders. The commission shall be composed of thirteen members, one of whom shall be elected the chairman. The commission is authorized to elect such other officers as it deems necessary. All members shall be appointed by the governor and shall serve at his pleasure until their respective successors shall have been appointed and commissioned. Each appointment by the governor shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation. Each member shall be a qualified voter of the state and a resident of the state. While acting in their official capacity, members shall receive a per diem of fifty dollars and shall also be reimbursed for actual travel expenses incurred within the state in accordance with policy approved by the division of administration.

Acts 1984, No. 899,§ 2, eff. July 1, 1984; Acts 1999, No. 570,§ 1

§2502. Executive director; duties; staff

The commission shall have an executive director who shall be the assistant secretary for the office for addictive disorders. The executive director shall be an ex officio member of the Louisiana Commission on Addictive Disorders but shall not have the right to vote on matters before the commission. The commission shall have such other staff as it shall deem necessary and proper to discharge its statutory mandate.

Acts 1984, No. 899,§ 2, eff. July 1, 1984; Acts 1999, No. 570,§ 1.

§2503. Commission duties and responsibilities

A. The commission shall advise the office for addictive disorders, the Louisiana State Board of Certification of Substance Abuse Counselors, and officers of any other state department concerning the policy of the state with respect to addictive disorders. However, the provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to the Substance Abuse Prevention Education Program of the Department of Education and the Highway Safety Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-564) administered by the Highway Safety Commission of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

B. The commission shall recommend an annual state plan to the office for addictive disorders setting forth proposed policy, program initiatives, and goals for each fiscal year relative to the prevention and treatment of addictive disorders in this state.

C. The commission shall serve as liaison among state and local governmental entities concerned with the prevention and treatment of addictive disorders.

D. The commission is authorized to solicit and accept private and public funds in the form of donations and grants.

E. The commission shall advise, assist, and make recommendations to the Louisiana State Board of Certification for Substance Abuse Counselors on matters pertaining to the development of standards for certification of substance abuse counselors.

Acts 1984, No. 899,§ 2, eff. July 1, 1984; Acts 1985, No. 613,§ 1; Acts 1987, No. 384,§ 1; Acts 1999, No. 570,§ 1.

§2504. Commission; reports; recommendations

The commission shall report annually on March first to the governor, the chairmen of the House and Senate Committees on Health and Welfare, and the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals as to its activities for the previous year and recommendations as to future programs.

Acts 1984, No. 899,§ 2, eff. July 1, 1984; Acts 1999, No. 570,§ 1.

1) The Department of Health and Hospitals shall establish a program to provide addictive disorders services to eligible pregnant women. Such services shall ensure the availability of appropriate addictive disorders treatment programs that do not discriminate against pregnant women or women with young children.

(2) The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals shall include in the state addictive disorders plan an emphasis which shall focus on the mechanisms to ameliorate the effects of prenatal addictive exposure. The plan shall include but need not be limited to:

(a) Ensuring the availability of appropriate addictive disorders treatment programs that do not discriminate against pregnant women or women with young children.

(b) Increasing public awareness that addictive disorders are illnesses and combating the misconception that addictive disorders are a problem only among minorities.

(c) Developing criteria for giving pregnant women priority access to publicly funded addictive disorders treatment programs.

(d) Developing residential treatment programs specifically designed for addiction-disordered women and their children.

(e) Encouraging the medical community to identify and refer addiction-disordered pregnant women to treatment programs.

(f) Developing effective strategies for preventing alcohol, nicotine, or substance abuse, or other addictive disorders by assisting in the training of educators, health care providers, and others in identifying addictive disorders and in taking appropriate action. These strategies shall include training designed to improve educational programs for children and adolescents on the dangers of addictive disorders.

C. The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals shall provide to the legislature an analysis of the state and local fiscal impact of implementing the plan, alternative funding mechanisms, and a recommended apportionment of state and local funding for such programs.

Acts 1991, No. 636,§ 1; Acts 1999, No. 570,§ 1.