A. The legislature hereby creates within the department a continuum of care program for certain pregnant women and parents, referred to hereafter in this Chapter as the “program”.

            B.(1) The purpose of the program is to facilitate the operation of a statewide telecare support network that provides community outreach, consultations, and care coordination for women who are challenged with unexpected pregnancies.

            (2) The program shall be designed to accomplish all of the following goals:

            (a) Encourage healthy childbirth.

            (b) Support childbirth as an alternative to abortion.

            (c) Promote family formation.

            (d) Assist parents in establishing successful parenting techniques.

            (e) Increase the economic self-sufficiency of families.

            C.(1) The program shall encompass a statewide telecare support network. The department shall provide in rule for the functions and administration of this network.

            (2) The rules of the department providing for the telecare support network shall ensure that the network does not hold itself out to be an entity that can perform, refer for, or assist with an abortion. The telecare support network shall not set appointments with or refer women or parents to any entity that performs abortions or recommends for abortion.

            D. The department shall finance the program with monies appropriated to it by the legislature for the operation of the program, including TANF funds, American Rescue Plan Act funds, and any other sources of revenue.

            Acts 2022, No. 561, §1, eff. June 17, 2022.