A. There is hereby created, within the office of the governor, the Louisiana Interagency Council on Homelessness, referred to in this Chapter as the “council”, for the purpose of developing a statewide plan to end homelessness in Louisiana.

            B. The term “homelessness” for the purpose of this Chapter shall have the same meaning as provided in the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009, 42 U.S.C. § 11302.

            C. The duties and responsibilities of the council shall include but are not limited to the following:

            (1) To develop a statewide plan to end homelessness, which shall include and address the following:

            (a) Identification and analysis of the particular challenges and barriers that cause people in Louisiana to become at risk of homelessness, to experience homelessness, and to be unable to return to housing.

            (b) Assessment of factors that contribute to episodes and rates of homelessness at the individual, community, and state levels.

            (c) Proposed actions and policies to address the challenges, barriers, and factors that contribute to homelessness.

            (2) To advise the governor, legislature, and local governments as appropriate on the causes of homelessness in Louisiana.

            (3) To submit an annual written report to the governor and the legislature regarding the statewide plan to end homelessness.

            D.(1) The membership of the council shall be reflective of all geographic regions of the state and shall be comprised of the following members:

            (a) The commissioner of administration or his designee.

            (b) The executive director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation or his designee.

            (c) The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services or his designee.

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

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

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

            (g) The secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs or his designee.

            (h) One representative from each of the federally recognized continuum of care to end homelessness programs located in Louisiana appointed by the governing board of each continuum of care.

            (i) The executive director of the Louisiana Services Network Data Consortium or his designee.

            (j) The executive director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence or his designee.

            (k) The president of the Louisiana Occupational Therapist Association board of directors or his designee.

            (l)(i) The chairmen of the Senate and House committees on health and welfare shall appoint six members. Three members shall be appointed by the Senate chairman and three members shall be appointed by the House chairman. The members shall be appointed from a list of nominations submitted jointly by the governing boards of the continuums of care located in Louisiana.

            (ii) Each person appointed pursuant to this Subparagraph shall have at least five years of academic or professional expertise in housing or services for people experiencing homelessness with a focus in one or more of the following areas:

            (aa) Street outreach.

            (bb) Diversion, rapid resolution, or homeless prevention services.

            (cc) Emergency shelter.

            (dd) Transitional housing.

            (ee) Rapid rehousing.

            (ff) Permanent supportive housing.

            (gg) Behavioral health or substance abuse disorders.

            (hh) Homelessness as it relates to actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.

            (ii) Racial or ethnic disparities in homelessness.

            (jj) Veterans homelessness.

            (kk) Youth homelessness.

            (ll) Chronic homelessness.

            (mm) Domestic violence.

            (m) The executive director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation shall appoint at least two members with lived experience of homelessness. The members shall be appointed from a list of nominations submitted jointly by the governing boards of the continuums of care located in Louisiana. Each member appointed pursuant to this Subparagraph shall represent as many of the following subpopulations as possible:

            (i) Youth aged twenty-four or under.

            (ii) Veterans.

            (iii) People experiencing or who experienced chronic homelessness.

            (iv) People with differing actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.

            (v) Survivors of domestic violence.

            (2) Appointed members shall serve two-year terms. Members are eligible for reappointment. Any designee shall serve at the pleasure of the designating authority.

            (3) Members appointed pursuant to Subparagraphs (1)(l) and (m) of this Subsection shall receive a per diem for attendance at council meetings. The per diem shall be paid by the Louisiana Housing Corporation.

            (4) The council shall elect a chairman and officers from its membership.

            (5) The council shall meet at regularly scheduled intervals and at the call of the chairman.

            E. The Louisiana Housing Corporation shall provide support for the council, including staff, facilities, and resources to facilitate remote participation in meetings to the extent authorized by law.

            Acts 2023, No. 314, §2.