Louisiana § RS 15:1199.4 - Reentry Advisory Council; creation; members; powers and duties

§ RS 15:1199.4. Reentry Advisory Council; creation; members; powers and duties

            A. The Reentry Advisory Council is hereby created within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

            B. The council shall be domiciled in East Baton Rouge Parish.

            C. The council shall be comprised of twenty-two members.

            D. Ten members of the council shall be comprised as follows:

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

            (2) The secretary of Louisiana Works, or his designee.

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

            (4) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, or his designee.

            (5) The president of the Senate shall appoint one member from the standing committee in the Senate having criminal law and procedure subject matter jurisdiction.

            (6) The speaker of the House shall appoint one member from the standing committee in the House having criminal law and procedure subject matter jurisdiction.

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

            (8) The executive director for the Louisiana Housing Corporation, or his designee.

            (9) The chief justice of the Louisiana State Supreme Court, or his designee.

            (10) The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall appoint one member from the Department of Public Safety and Corrections medical staff.

            E. The governor shall appoint thirteen members in accordance with the following provisions:

            (1) One member shall be appointed from a list of three nominees submitted by the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association.

            (2) One member shall be appointed from a list of three nominees submitted by the Louisiana Association of Builders and Contractors.

            (3) One member shall be appointed from a list of three nominees submitted by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

            (4) One member shall be appointed from a list of three members nominated by the president of the Louisiana AFL-CIO.

            (5) One member shall be appointed from a list of three members nominated by the Louisiana State Building and Construction Trades Council.

            (6) One member shall be appointed from a list of three members nominated by the Louisiana Chaplains' Association or the Louisiana Interchurch Conference.

            (7) One member shall be appointed from a list of three nominations from the Louisiana District Attorneys Association.

            (8) One member shall be appointed from a list of three nominations from the Louisiana Public Defender Board.

            (9) One member shall be appointed from a list of three nominations from the Louisiana District Judges' Association.

            (10) One member shall be appointed from a list of three nominations from the committee on parole.

            (11) One member shall be appointed from a list of three nominations from a victim's advocacy group.

            (12) One member shall be appointed from a list of three nominations of ex-offenders.

            (13) One member shall be appointed from a list of three nominations from the Council on the Children of Incarcerated Parents and Caregivers.

            F. Members, other than the secretaries, or their designees, or employees of the state, may receive a per diem of seventy-five dollars for each day spent in actual attendance of meetings of the council. Members may also receive a mileage allowance for mileage traveled in attending meetings of the council. The mileage allowance shall be fixed by the council in an amount not to exceed the mileage rate for state employees.

            G. Twelve members shall constitute a quorum, and all actions of the council shall require the affirmative vote of the majority of the members present.

            H. The governor shall appoint the chairman of the council, and the council shall annually elect a vice chairman from among its members.

            I. The council shall meet at least quarterly and may meet upon the call of the chairman or any three members. Meetings of the council shall be open to the public in accordance with law.

            J. A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

            K. Appointed members of the council shall serve four-year terms.

            L. The secretary shall provide the council with necessary clerical personnel.

            M. The council shall serve as an advisory body to the secretary and the legislature on the administration of the program as authorized by this Part.

            N. The Reentry Advisory Council shall:

            (1) Identify methods to improve collaboration and coordination of offender transition services, including cross-agency training and information sharing that will help to improve outcomes for offenders.

            (2) Establish a means to share data, research, and measurement resources in relation to reentry initiatives with relevant agencies.

            (3) Identify funding areas that should be coordinated across agencies to maximize the delivery of state and community-based services as they relate to reentry.

            (4) Identify areas in which improved collaboration and coordination of programs and activities will result in increased effectiveness or efficiency of service delivery.

            (5) Promote areas of research and program evaluation that can be coordinated across agencies with an emphasis on applying evidence-based practices to support treatment and intervention programs for offenders.

            (6) Conduct a review of existing policies and practices and make specific recommendations to the legislature for systemic improvement.

            (7) Create and support local reentry councils in collaboration with community stakeholders throughout the state.

            (8) Commence offender reentry public education campaigns.

            (9) Enhance the role of faith and community-based services for formerly incarcerated persons.

            (10) Provide coordination of reentry initiatives across the state and ensure eligibility for Second Chance Act grant opportunities and other reentry grant opportunities.

            O. Any appointed member who is absent for two meetings out of four consecutive meetings of the council may be disqualified and removed from the council membership. The council shall notify the nominating entity if the person has been removed from the council membership pursuant to this Subsection and request that the appointing entity provide a list of three nominees to the governor to fill the vacancy. The former member shall not be eligible for reappointment until expiration of the balance of the vacated term.

            Acts 2008, No. 106, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 266, §1; Acts 2010, No. 836, §1; Acts 2016, No. 113, §1; Acts 2021, No. 236, §1.