Title 29. Military, Naval, and Veterans’ Affairs

Chapter 6. The Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act

29:726.5       Louisiana Commission on School and Nonprofit Security

A. The Louisiana Commission on School and Nonprofit Security, referred to in this Section as the “commission”, is hereby established within GOHSEP to study and make recommendations on the security needs of schools and nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attacks in Louisiana, including recommendations on the establishment, administration, and funding of a grant program for eligible entities to apply for security grants covering security personnel, security training, facility hardening, and other necessary security measures. 

B. The commission shall be comprised of the following members: 

(1) The director of GOHSEP or his designee. 

(2) The chair of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security or his designee. 

(3) The chair of the Senate Select Committee on Homeland Security or his designee. 

(4) The superintendent of state police or his designee. 

(5) The executive director of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association or his designee with expertise in terrorist attacks. 

(6) The executive director of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference or his designee. 

(7) The superintendent of the Department of Education or his designee. 

(8) The executive director of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice or his designee. 

(9) The executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association or his designee. 

(10) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents or his designee. 

(11) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools or his designee. 

(12) The chair of the Nonpublic School Commission or his designee. 

(13) A director of a homeland security and emergency preparedness office in a rural area, appointed by the director of GOHSEP. 

(14) A director of a homeland security and emergency preparedness office in a large metropolitan area, appointed by the director of GOHSEP. 

(15) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police or his designee. 

(16) The president of the Louisiana Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association or his designee. 

(17) The state fire marshal or his designee. 

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

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

(20) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Education or his designee. 

(21) The chairman of the House Committee on Education or his designee. 

(22) One teacher selected by the Louisiana Association of Educators. 

(23) One teacher selected by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. 

(24) One member of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council selected by majority vote of the council. 

C. (1) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation. Travel expenses, per diem, and other expenses may be paid by the member’s employer or appointing authority. 

(2) The commission shall fix a time and place for its meetings and shall meet at least quarterly. Additional meetings may be held upon the call of the chairman. All meetings of the commission shall be held in compliance with the Open Meetings Law. 

(3) A majority of the total commission members shall constitute a quorum, and any official action taken by the commission shall require an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting. 

(4) The commission shall elect a chair by a majority vote of the members. 

D. The commission shall issue a report to GOHSEP, the Senate Select Committee on Homeland Security, and the House Select Committee on Homeland Security of its findings and recommendations with respect to the security status and needs of schools and nonprofit organizations. The report shall be issued annually and at such other times as deemed necessary by the commission or GOHSEP. 

E. The commission shall provide oversight of the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools. The commission shall annually report to the governor on the activities of the center and any identified needs of the center. 

F. The commission shall provide recommendations to the legislature relative to legislative changes for increasing school safety. 

G. GOHSEP shall adopt rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act for the implementation and administration of the activities of the commission and the center with oversight by the Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education. 

Added by Acts 2021, No. 263, § 1. Amended by Acts 2022, No. 690, § 1; Acts 2023, No. 334, § 2, eff. June 13, 2023.