§ 36:258 — Offices; purposes and functions

Louisiana § 36:258

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 36: Organization of the Executive Branch of State Government

Text

§258. Offices; purposes and functions
A. The purposes for which the offices of the Louisiana Department of Health are
created shall be set forth in this Section.
B. The office of public health shall perform the functions of the state which relate
to the general health of the people of the state, including but not limited to responsibility for
the preparation and supervision of the Sanitary Code, local health units, sewage treatment
and disposal within the state, physical fitness, supplemental food programs for women,
infants, and children, emergency medical services, and related functions affecting the public
health. It shall also perform those functions of the state provided by law relating to
environmental quality and pollution control which are related to the public health and which
are specifically assigned to the department, including but not limited to functions relating to
the treatment and disposal of sewage within the state, with the exception of those functions
assigned by law to the Department of Environmental Quality including, but not limited to,
the licensing of sewage sludge transporters or haulers.
C. The consolidation of the administration of the offices for mental health and of
addictive disorders into the office of behavioral health will offer less redundancy and greater
benefits to Louisiana citizens in need of these services. The office of behavioral health shall
perform the functions of the state which oversee services and continuity of care for the
prevention, detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up care of mental and emotional
illness in Louisiana and shall perform functions related to mental health. It shall also
perform the functions of the state relating to the care, training, treatment, and education of
those suffering from substance-related or addictive disorders and the prevention of
substance-related and addictive disorders and administer the substance-related and addictive
disorders programs in the state. It shall monitor residential and outpatient care facilities for
persons with mental illness, persons suffering from substance-related or addictive disorders,
and persons suffering from co-occurring mental illness and substance-related or addictive
disorders.
D. The office for citizens with developmental disabilities shall be responsible for the
programs and functions of the state relating to the care, training, treatment, and education of
persons with intellectual disabilities, persons with developmental disabilities, and persons
with autism. It shall administer residential and day care facilities of the state for persons with
intellectual disabilities and persons with developmental disabilities.
E. The office on women's health and community health shall be responsible for
leading and coordinating efforts within the Louisiana Department of Health that are intended
to improve women's health outcomes through policy, education, evidence-based practices,
programs, and services. The office on women's health and community health shall serve as
a clearinghouse, coordinating agency, and resource center for women's health data and
strategies, services, programs, and initiatives that address women's health-related concerns.
The department may consolidate efforts on women's health and community health within the
department as deemed appropriate by the secretary of the department.
NOTE: Subsection F eff. until one or more executive branch depts. is
abolished or a const. amend. authorizing the creation of an additional dept.
becomes effective, whichever is earlier. See Acts 2013, No. 384, and Acts
2024, No. 278.
F. The office of aging and adult services shall be responsible for the programs and
functions of the Louisiana Department of Health related to the long-term care of the elderly
and the protection and long-term care of persons with adult onset disabilities. It shall
administer the residential state-operated nursing homes, the Villa Feliciana Medical
Complex, the protection services program of adults from ages eighteen to fifty-nine, the
department's long-term support and services programs, the State Personal Assistance
Services program, the Community and Family Support Program, the Traumatic Brain and
Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund, as well as other related programs within the department.
NOTE: Subsection F as amended by Acts 2013, No. 384, §3, eff. when one or more
of the 20 depts. of the executive branch is abolished or a const. amend. authorizing the
creation of an additional dept. becomes effective, whichever is earlier. See Acts 2013, No.
384, and Acts 2024, No. 278.
F. The office of aging and adult services shall be responsible for the programs and
functions of the Louisiana Department of Health related to the long-term care of the elderly
and the protection and long-term care of persons with adult onset disabilities. It shall
administer the residential state-operated nursing homes, the Villa Feliciana Medical
Complex, the protection services program of adults from ages eighteen to fifty-nine, the
department's long-term support and services programs, the State Personal Assistance
Services program, the Community and Family Support Program, the Traumatic Brain and
Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund, as well as other related programs within the department.
The office shall have no responsibility or authority for any programs or functions assigned
by the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 to the Department of Elderly Affairs.
G. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections C and D of this Section, the
Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority shall be responsible for and shall perform the
functions relative to the operation and management of mental health, developmental
disabilities, and substance abuse services for Jefferson Parish only, and the department shall
not be responsible for nor perform such functions unless the contract between the department
and the authority has been terminated pursuant to R.S. 28:918(E).
H. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections B, C, and D of this Section, the
Capital Area Human Services District shall be responsible for and shall perform the
functions relative to the operation and management of community-based mental health,
developmental disabilities, substance abuse services, and certain community-based public
health services for the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville,
Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana only unless the contract between the
department and the authority has been terminated pursuant to R.S. 28:918(E).
I. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections C and D of this Section, the Florida
Parishes Human Services Authority shall be responsible for and shall perform the functions
relative to the operation and management of mental health, developmental disabilities, and
addictive disorder services for the parishes of Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany,
Tangipahoa, and Washington, and the department shall not be responsible for nor perform
such functions unless the contract between the department and the authority has been
terminated pursuant to R.S. 28:918(E).
J. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections C and D of this Section, the South
Central Louisiana Human Services District shall be responsible for and shall perform the
functions relative to the operation and management of mental health, developmental
disabilities, and addictive disorder services for the parishes of Assumption, Lafourche, St.
Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, and Terrebonne, and the department shall
not be responsible for nor perform such functions unless the contract between the department
and the authority has been terminated pursuant to R.S. 28:918(E).
K. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections C and D of this Section, the
Metropolitan Human Services District shall be responsible for and shall perform the
functions relative to the operation and management of mental health, developmental
disabilities, and addictive disorder services for the parishes of Orleans, St. Bernard, and
Plaquemines, and the department shall not be responsible for nor perform such functions
unless the contract between the department and the authority has been terminated pursuant
to R.S. 28:918(E).
L. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections C and D of this Section, the
Northeast Delta Human Services Authority shall be responsible for and shall perform the
functions relative to the operation and management of mental health, developmental
disabilities, and addictive disorder services for the parishes of Caldwell, East Carroll,
Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, and
West Carroll, and the department shall not be responsible for nor perform such functions
unless the contract between the department and the authority has been terminated pursuant
to R.S. 28:918(E).
M. The office of the surgeon general shall be responsible for leading and
coordinating efforts of the Louisiana Department of Health that are intended to provide
clinical and medical guidance and recommendations to improve health outcomes for all
residents of this state, across all populations and age groups. The department may
consolidate efforts on healthcare provisions and outcomes for all programs within the
department as deemed appropriate by the secretary of the department after consultation with
the surgeon general.
NOTE: See Acts 2013, No. 384, §9 which makes the Act effective when one
or more executive branch depts. are abolished or a constitutional amendment
authorizing an additional dept. becomes effective, whichever is earlier.
NOTE: See Acts 2013, No. 384, §8, effective July 1, 2013 per §9(A) of the
Act, provides that funds allocated for any purpose under the authority of the
Office of Elderly Affairs or its successor, the Department of Elderly Affairs,
are allocated only to the Office of Elderly Affairs or its successor and are not
appropriated, allocated or transferred to any other state department, office or
programs.
NOTE: See Acts 2022, No. 271, §7, repealing Acts 2006, No. 449, §4,
relative to effectiveness and powers and duties of the board of the South
Central La. Human Services District.

Legislative History

Acts 1976, No. 513, §1; Acts 1977, No. 83, §1, eff. June 22, 1977; Acts 1978, No. 786, §4, eff. July 17, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 449, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1980; Acts 1979, No. 680, §3; Acts 1979, No. 692, §1; Acts 1979, No. 784, §2; Acts 1980, No. 751, §1; Acts 1981, No. 603, §1; Acts 1981, No. 823, §1; Acts 1981, Ex.Sess., No. 15, §1, eff. Nov. 19, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 154, §1, eff. July 1, 1982; Acts 1982, No. 698, §1; Acts 1982, No. 842, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982; Acts 1983, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 13, §3, eff. July 1, 1983; Acts 1983, No. 574, §1; Acts 1983, No. 659, §2; Acts 1983, No. 386, §1, eff. July 2, 1983; Acts 1984, No. 187, §1; Acts 1984, No. 899, §1, eff. July 1, 1984; Acts 1984, No. 217, §2; Acts 1984, No. 520, §1, eff. July 1, 1984; Acts 1984, No. 567, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1985; Acts 1985, No. 919, §1, eff. July 23, 1985; Acts 1985, No. 965, §2; Acts 1986, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 28, §1, eff. Dec. 24, 1986; Acts 1987, No. 592, §1, eff. July 9, 1987; Acts 1987, No. 912, §1, eff. July 20, 1987; Acts 1988, 1st. Ex. Sess., No. 1, §2, eff. Mar. 28, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 858, §2, eff. July 18, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 159, §2; Acts 1989, No. 458, §2; Acts 1990, No. 94, §2; Acts 1991, No. 390, §§1, 6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 571, §1, eff. July 1, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 200, §5; Acts 1993, No. 466, §2, eff. June 9, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 712, §2, eff. June 21, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 723, §2, eff. June 21, 1995; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 45, §1, eff. May 7, 1996; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 54, §2; Acts 1997, No. 172, §2, eff. June 13, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 1130, §1; Acts 1999, No. 339, §2; Acts 2001, No. 826, §2, eff. June 26, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 594, §3, eff. June 27, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 846, §3, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 803, §2, eff. July 8, 2004; Acts 2006, No. 449, §2, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 465, §2, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 631, §2, eff. June 23, 2006; Acts 2008, No. 56, §2, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2008, No. 373, §3, eff. June 21, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 384, §§3, 4, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 877, §3, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 939, §4, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2013, No. 384, §§3, 9, eff. upon contingencies contained in Acts 2013, No. 384, §9(B); Acts 2017, No. 369, §3; Acts 2018, No. 206, §2; Acts 2022, No. 271, §7; Acts 2022, No. 676, §1, eff. June 18, 2022; Acts 2024, No. 278, §1, eff. Feb. 1, 2025, §3, See Act; Acts 2024, No. 739, §1, eff. June 19, 2024.