§ 51:1057 — Empowering Families to Live Well Louisiana Council and implementation plan

§1057. Empowering Families to Live Well Louisiana Council and implementation plan
A. There is hereby established the Empowering Families to Live Well Louisiana
Council to assist and empower struggling families throughout Louisiana. The council is
hereby established within the Department of Children and Family Services which shall
exercise and perform its powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities in the manner
provided for agencies transferred in accordance with the provisions of applicable state law.
B. The council shall be composed of the following members:
(1) The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, or designee.
(2) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, or designee.
(3) The secretary of Louisiana Works, or designee.
(4) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, or
designee.
(5) The secretary of Louisiana Economic Development, or designee.
(6) The secretary of the Department of Revenue, or designee.
(7) The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, or designee.
(8) The superintendent of the Department of Education, or designee.
(9) The executive director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation, or designee.
(10) The executive director of the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance,
or designee.
(11) The chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, or designee.
(12) The chair of the House Committee on Health and Welfare, or designee.
(13) The president/CEO of the Louisiana Association of United Ways, or designee.
(14) The president of the Urban League of Louisiana, or designee.
(15) The president of the Louisiana AFL/CIO, or designee.
(16) One member of the Louisiana State University faculty with expertise in the area
of poverty, appointed by the chancellor of the LSU system.
(17) One member of the Southern University system faculty with expertise in the area
of poverty, appointed by the president of Southern University.
(18) One member of the University of Louisiana system faculty with expertise in the
area of poverty, appointed by the president of the system.
(19) One member of a Louisiana-based philanthropic organization, appointed by the
governor.
(20) The executive director of Invest in Louisiana, or designee.
(21) The president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, or designee.
(22) The executive director of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference, or designee.
(23) The executive director of the Children's Cabinet, or designee.
(24) One at-large member appointed by the governor.
(25) One member representing Ellevate Louisiana.
C.(1) The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, or designee,
and the chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, or designee, shall serve as
cochairs of the council.
(2) The council shall have as its purpose the goal of pursuing programs and policies
which reduce deprivation and hardship, while promoting the well-being and health of all
Louisianians. The council shall seek private sector funding to be used with public funds to
support evidence-based, innovative solutions to poverty.
(3) The council may solicit guidance from in-state and national experts on the subject.
(4) The council shall seek funding for grant programs targeted at local government
entities, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, and other qualified
community-based organizations directly serving people in Louisiana.
(5) The council may work to develop mechanisms to coordinate assistance and
services offered by state departments to best address the needs of families throughout the
state.
D.(1) The council shall adopt such rules and procedures as it shall find necessary for
the conduct of the activities and meetings of the council.
(2) No action shall be taken by the council except by a favorable vote of a majority
of members present.
(3) The council shall elect such officers as it finds necessary.
(4) The council shall meet at least once each quarter.
(5) The council may establish subcommittees composed of a subset of council
members, as needed.
E. Members shall serve without compensation or reimbursement of expenses, other
than what may be afforded by their appointing authority. Legislative members of the council
shall receive the same per diem and reimbursement of travel expenses as is provided for
legislative committee meetings under the rules of the respective house in which they serve.
F. The council shall make, or cause to be made, all such studies, reviews, or analyses
which it finds necessary for its purpose.
G. The council may receive and expend funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by the legislature or from any other source, including donations or gifts of money
or services from public or private organizations or from any other sources, to be utilized for
the purposes of the council.
H. The council shall submit an implementation plan to the Senate Committee on
Health and Welfare and the House Committee on Health and Welfare, meeting jointly, for
approval by June 30, 2026. The plan shall include administrative and legislative policy
recommendations.
I. Thereafter, the council shall present an annual report on the development of an
implementation plan to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare and the House
Committee on Health and Welfare, meeting jointly. This report shall include a section from
each state department that is a member of the council, outlining administrative policy
changes that can further the mission of the council. The report shall also include legislative
recommendations. The report shall be submitted for approval to the Senate Committee on
Health and Welfare and the House Committee on Health and Welfare, meeting jointly, no
later than January thirty-first of each year.

Legislative History

Acts 2018, No. 581, §1, eff. May 31, 2018; Acts 2025, No. 108, §§1, 2, eff. June 8, 2025.