§ 46:1452 — Continuum of care program; purpose and goals; means of finance

§1452. Continuum of care program; purpose and goals; means of finance
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.

Legislative History

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