A. The legislature hereby establishes within the office of public health of the Louisiana Department of Health a commission which shall be designated the “Louisiana Commission on HIV and Hepatitis C Education, Prevention, and Treatment”. The commission shall be composed of thirty-three members as provided in Subsection B of this Section.

            B.(1) Twenty members shall serve at the governor’s pleasure and shall be appointed by the governor as follows:

            (a)(i) Two persons living with the human immunodeficiency virus, referred to hereafter in this Section as “HIV”, at least one of whom represents a racial or ethnic subpopulation.

            (ii) Two persons living with hepatitis C, one of whom is co-infected with HIV and at least one of whom represents a racial or ethnic subpopulation.

            (b)(i) One representative from a community-based provider organization which provides services to persons living with HIV, and which represents a racial or ethnic subpopulation.

            (ii) One medically qualified representative from a medical provider or community-based provider organization which provides services to persons living with hepatitis C or HIV, and which represents a racial or ethnic subpopulation.

            (c) One representative from the Louisiana Primary Care Association.

            (d) One representative from the statewide HIV Community Planning Group.

            (e) One nurse representative from the Louisiana State Nurses Association who serves patients with HIV or hepatitis C.

            (f) One social worker representative from the Louisiana Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

            (g) Four Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act grantees consisting of one Part A grantee, one Part B grantee, one Part C grantee, and one Part D grantee.

            (h) Two representatives from the faith-based community.

            (i) Three representatives from the Louisiana Department of Health who have knowledge of policies related to HIV and hepatitis C and who work in the office of public health, office of behavioral health, and bureau of health services financing, respectively.

            (j) One representative from the office of the governor.

            (2) The following members shall serve by virtue of their positions:

            (a) The state superintendent of education or his designee.

            (b) The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or his designee.

            (c) The commissioner of insurance or his designee.

            (d) The chancellor of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans or his designee.

            (e) The chancellor of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport or his designee.

            (f) The dean of the Tulane University School of Medicine or his designee.

            (g) The dean of the School of Pharmacy of the University of Louisiana at Monroe or his designee.

            (h) The dean of the College of Pharmacy of Xavier University of Louisiana or his designee.

            (i) The president of the Louisiana Psychological Association or his designee.

            (j) The president of the Louisiana State Medical Society or his designee.

            (k) The president of the Louisiana Hospital Association or his designee.

            (3) Two members shall be appointed as follows:

            (a) One member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.

            (b) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

            (4) The governor shall strive for diversity in geography, race, sex, and educational background in appointing members to the commission. Each member appointed by the governor shall serve at the pleasure of the governor and shall be subject to Senate confirmation. The legislative members shall serve at the pleasure of the presiding officer of the respective legislative body.

            C. The commission, in open session, shall elect from among its members a chairman, who shall serve as chairman without salary.

            D. The commission shall hold at least six regular meetings each year at a place designated by the chairman. The commission members shall be compensated for travel in connection with commission meetings and official commission business as approved by the chairman of the commission. Reimbursement for travel expenses shall be in accordance with the travel regulations of the division of administration. All meetings of the commission shall be convened in the state of Louisiana.

            E. The functions of the commission shall be to:

            (1) Serve as an advisory body to the governor and the Louisiana Department of Health on matters relating to hepatitis C and HIV.

            (2) Serve as a coordinating forum on matters relating to hepatitis C and HIV between and among state agencies, local government, and nongovernmental groups.

            (3) Research and review all state regulations, guidelines, policies, and procedures relative to prevention, treatment, and care of hepatitis C and HIV infection and, when appropriate, make recommendations to the governor, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, and the legislature.

            (4) Provide a forum for an annual public hearing on matters relating to hepatitis C and HIV as well as a mechanism for other public comments and peer reviews on federal and state-funded programs related to hepatitis C and HIV.

            F. The commission may request administrative and technical support from the Louisiana Department of Health, office of the secretary, HIV program office, and the office of public health to carry out the commission’s functions and responsibilities as provided in this Section.

            G. Repealed by Acts 2022, No. 326, §3.

            Acts 1991, No. 576, §2; Acts 1993, No. 291, §1, eff. June 2, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 185, §1; Acts 1997, No. 3, §5, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 811, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 624, §1; Acts 2005, No. 328, §2; Acts 2006, No. 154, §§1, 2; Acts 2008, No. 379, §1; Acts 2009, No. 384, §5, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 143, §1; Acts 2014, No. 192, §1; Acts 2018, No. 177, §2, eff. May 15, 2018; Acts 2018, No. 206, §4; Acts 2022, No. 326, §§2, 3.