EXECUTIVE ORDER MJF 99-27

Advisory Council on Disability Affairs

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. MJF 96-55, signed on October 17, 1996, reestablished and recreated the Governor's Advisory Council on Disability Affairs within the executive department, Office of the Governor; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to update Executive Order No. MJF 96-55 through the issuance of a replacement order;

NOW THEREFORE I, M.J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

SECTION 1: The Advisory Council on Disability Affairs (hereafter "Council") is reestablished and recreated within the executive department, Office of the Governor, Office of Disability Affairs.

SECTION 2: The duties of the Council shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

A. Advising the governor, through the Office of Disability Affairs, on issues of concern to the citizens of Louisiana who have disabilities and the identification of all their areas of need; and

B. Identifying possible solutions for the areas of concern and need identified pursuant to Subsection 2(A) of this Order and, when requested, assisting the Office of Disability Affairs in the resolution of other disability issues.

SECTION 3: The members of the Council shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the governor. The Council membership shall be selected as follows:

A. The governor, or the governor's designee; B. The lieutenant governor, or the lieutenant governor's designee; C. The secretary of state, or the secretary's designee; D. The superintendent of the Department of Education, or the superintendent's designee; E. The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, or the secretary's designee; F. The secretary of the Department of Labor, or the secretary's designee; G. The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, or the secretary of designee; H. The secretary of the Department of Social Services, or the secretary's designee; I. The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, or the secretary's designee; J. The state treasurer, or the treasurer's designee; K. The commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, or the commissioner's designee; L. The commissioner of the Department of Elections and Registration, or the commissioner's designee; M. The attorney general, or the attorney general's designee; N. One (1) member of the Louisiana House of Representatives designated by the speaker of the House of Representatives; O. One (1) member of the Louisiana State Senate designated by the president of the Senate; P. The state fire marshal, or the state fire marshal's designee; Q. The director of Facility Planning and Control, or the director's designee; R. The chair of the Developmental Disabilities Council, or the chair's designee; S. A disability service provider from a higher education institution; T. The chair of the Advocacy Center, or the chair's designee; U. The chair of the Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network, or the chair's designee; V. The chair of the Louisiana Rehabilitation Council, or the chair's designee; W. The chair of the Statewide Independent Living Council, or the chair's designee; X. The chair of the Mental Health Planning Council, or the chair's designee; and Y. Fifteen (15) at large members, ten (10) of whom have disabilities or have family members with disabilities, selected from Louisiana seven (7) congressional districts.

SECTION 4: The Council shall be chaired by the governor, or the governor's designee. The membership of the Council shall elect all other officers.

SECTION 5: The Council shall meet at regularly scheduled intervals and, if necessary, at special meetings called in accordance with the Council's bylaws.

SECTION 6: Support staff for the Council and facilities for its meetings shall be provided by the Office of Disability Affairs.

SECTION 7: The members of the Council shall not receive additional compensation or a per diem. Nonetheless, contingent upon the availability of funds, members who are not an employee of the state of Louisiana or one of its political subdivisions, or an elected official, may receive reimbursement from the Office of the Governor, for actual travel expenses incurred, in accordance with state guidelines and procedures, with the prior written approval of the commission of administration.

SECTION 8: Executive Order No. MJF 96-55, signed on October 17, 1996, is terminated and rescinded.

SECTION 9: The provisions of this Order are effective upon signature and shall remain in effect until amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the governor, or terminated by operation of law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the state of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in city of Baton Rouge, on this 23rd day of June, 1999.

M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Governor

ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Fox McKeithen
Secretary of State