Gov. Edwards Announces Boards and Commissions Appointments

Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his appointments to several Louisiana boards and commissions.

Children's Cabinet Advisory Board

The Children's Cabinet Advisory Board provides information and recommendations from the perspective of advocacy groups, service providers and parents on policies and programs relating to Louisiana children. Its strategic goals are to advise and assist the Children's Cabinet; coordinate agency resources and provide linkages among agencies that serve children and families; and develop policy, program and budget recommendations to address child and family issues.

Ashley G. Politz of Baton Rouge has been reappointed to the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board. Politz is the executive director of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Daniel I. Waldman, M.D. of New Orleans has been appointed to the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board. Waldman is an assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the LSU Health Sciences Center and will serve as the designee of the CEO of the LSU Health Sciences Center.

Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)

The Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) is responsible for developing and evaluating the curriculum of mandatory basic training courses for municipal officers, deputy sheriffs, state police, wildlife agents and all other persons commissioned as peace officers, defined by state law.

Sheriff Jason G. Ard of Springfield has been reappointed to the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Ard is the sheriff of Livingston Parish.

Chief Barry G. Bonner of Sterlington has been reappointed to the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Bonner is the chief of police of Sterlington.

Bridget A. Dinvaut of LaPlace has been reappointed to the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Dinvaut is the district attorney for St. John the Baptist Parish.

Chief Hal V. Hutchinson of New Iberia has been reappointed to the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Hutchinson is the chief of police for the Chitimacha Tribe.

Chief Louis B. Layrisson of Ponchatoula has been appointed to the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Layrisson is the chief of police of Ponchatoula.

Sheriff Willy J. Martin Jr. of Paulina has been appointed to the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Martin is the sheriff of St. James Parish.

Sheriff Brett M. Stassi Jr. of Plaquemine has been appointed to the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Stassi is the sheriff of Iberville Parish.

Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board

The purpose of the Commission is to assist state and local leaders in developing and coordinating human trafficking prevention programs, to identify gaps in prevention and intervention services, to conduct a continuing comprehensive review of all existing public and private human trafficking programs, to increase coordination among public and private programs to strengthen prevention and intervention services, and ultimately, to make recommendations with respect to human trafficking prevention and intervention.

Juanita M. Carruth of New Orleans has been appointed to the Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board. Carruth is the founder of Families Against Child Trafficking and will serve as an individual with expertise in advocacy for child victims of human trafficking.

Alliece G. Cole of Prairieville has been appointed to the Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board. Cole is the director of Anti-Human Trafficking Initiatives for HP Serve and will serve as an individual with expertise in advocacy for adult victims of human trafficking.

Rafael F. de Castro of Baton Rouge has been reappointed to the Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board. Castro is the executive director of the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault.

Michelle N. Johnson of Denham Springs has been reappointed to the Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board. Johnson is a peer-to-peer advisor for HP Serve and will serve as an adult survivor of human trafficking.

Reshelle C. Marino, Ph.D. of Metairie has been reappointed to the Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board. Marino is an assistant professor in the Counseling Department at Southeastern Louisiana University and will serve as a representative of the Louisiana School Counselors Association.

Casey L. Morace of Ruston has been reappointed to the Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board. Morace is the outreach training supervisor at Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services and will serve as a representative of the Louisiana Association of Children and Family Agencies.

Kristine M. Russell of Thibodaux has been appointed to the Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board. Russell is the district attorney for the 17^th Judicial District Court and will serve as a representative of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association.

Kate M. Shipley of New Orleans has been appointed to the Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board. Shipley is the executive director of Louisiana Children's Advocacy Centers.

Louisiana Board of Drug and Device Distributors

The Louisiana Board of Drug and Device Distributors issues licenses for and regulates the distribution of legend drugs and legend devices by distributors within and into the state of Louisiana in order to safeguard life and health and to promote the public welfare.

Michael K. Davis of Abita Springs has been reappointed to the Louisiana Board of Drug and Device Distributors. Davis is the emergency response director at Airgas and will serve as a licensed distributor representing the Louisiana Association of Wholesale Drug Distributors.

Trion P. Horgan of Hammond has been reappointed to the Louisiana Board of Drug and Device Distributors. Horgan is the operations manager at Stryker Orthopedics and will serve as a representative of the Louisiana Association of Wholesale Drug Distributors.

Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation

The Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is a nonprofit organization created to provide insurance products for residential and commercial property applicants who are in good faith entitled, but unable, to procure insurance through the voluntary insurance marketplace.

Shannon B. Johnson of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Johnson is the owner of Flower Insurance Agency.

Steven M. Werner of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Werner is the CFO for LUBA Casualty Insurance and will represent the American Insurance Association.

Louisiana Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C Education, Prevention and Treatment

The commission researches and reviews all the state regulations, guidelines, policies, and procedures relative to the prevention of Hepatitis C, HIV infection, and AIDS and makes recommendations to the governor, the Department of Health and Hospitals and the legislature.

Samuel H. Burgess of New Orleans has been appointed to the Louisiana Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C Education, Prevention and Treatment. Burgess is the director of the Office of Public Health, STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program of the Louisiana Department of Health. Burgess will serve as a Ryan White HIV/AIDS grantee.

De Ann Marie Gruber Ph.D. of Mandeville has been appointed to the Louisiana Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C Education, Prevention and Treatment. Gruber is the director of the Bureau of Infectious Diseases for the Louisiana Department of Health and will serve as a representative from the Office of Public Health who has knowledge of policies related to HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C.

Louisiana Highway Safety Commission

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is responsible for developing and administering the state's traffic safety program by cooperating with the federal government and other entities for the purpose of highway safety; preparing highway safety plans; studying, evaluating, and preparing statistics regarding motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and deaths; and obtaining federal funds for use within the state for highway safety purposes.

Kelley D. Dair of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. Dair is the victim services specialist for Mothers Against Drunk Driving and will represent the 2nd Congressional District.

Linda P. Hull of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. Hull is the founder of Beyond the Badge Louisiana and will represent the 6th Congressional District.

Chief Michael P. Kazerooni of Kentwood has been appointed to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. Kazerooni is the chief of police of Kentwood and will serve at-large.

Patient's Compensation Fund Oversight Board

The Patient's Compensation Fund is an off-budget unit of the state which is 100 percent self-funded and not pooled in the general fund. The Fund was created in 1975 to provide an affordable and guaranteed medical malpractice coverage system for the private healthcare providers in the state. It basically plays the role of an 'excess insurer' of private healthcare providers. The law allows a provider to have financial responsibility for the first $100,000 of exposure per claim whether through insurance or security deposit and enroll in the Fund for the excess coverage and be under an umbrella of the cap on damages. The vast majority of health care providers are enrolled in the Patient's Compensation Fund and pay surcharges for the coverage and protection provided. The Patient's Compensation Fund provides protection for the healthcare system, keeping costs down, and providing a guaranteed pool of funds to pay those citizens injured from medical malpractice of private health care providers.

Christopher M. Foret, M.D. of Franklinton has been reappointed to the Patient's Compensation Fund Oversight Board. Foret is a family medicine physician and will represent the class of health care providers contributing the greatest percentage of the fund's aggregate surcharges.

Volunteer Louisiana Commission

The Volunteer Louisiana Commission is charged with encouraging community service as a means of community and state problem-solving, promoting and supporting citizen involvement in government and private programs, developing a long-term comprehensive vision and plan for action for community service initiatives in Louisiana, acting as the state's policy-making body for the Corporation on National and Community Service, and serving as the state's liaison to national and state organizations that support its mission. Appointments to the commission are made by the Governor in collaboration with the Lieutenant Governor.

Troy J. Broussard of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Volunteer Louisiana Commission. Broussard is the associate state director of advocacy and community outreach for the AARP and will serve as an individual with expertise in promoting the involvement of older adults in services and volunteerism.

Kellie D. Duhon of Crowley has been reappointed to the Volunteer Louisiana Commission. Duhon is a community relations consultant for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Louisiana and will serve as a representative of business.

Leslie J. Hill of Baton Rouge has been reappointed to the Volunteer Louisiana Commission. Hill is the director of government and community affairs at Louisiana Schools of the Deaf and Visually Impaired and will serve as the designee of the superintendent of education.

Lee A. Jeter Sr. of Bossier City has been reappointed to the Volunteer Louisiana Commission. Jeter is the executive director of the Fuller Center for Housing of NWLA and will serve as a representative of community-based agencies or of community-based organizations within this state.

Paul Anthony Pratt of Shreveport has been reappointed to the Volunteer Louisiana Commission. Pratt is an Allstate insurance agent and the CEO of Pratt and Associates. Pratt will serve as a representative of business.

Kyle R. Wedberg of New Orleans has been reappointed to the Volunteer Louisiana Commission. Wedberg is the president and CEO of the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA) and will serve as an individual with expertise in the educational, training, and developmental needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth.

Statewide Independent Living Council

The Louisiana Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) was established by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to support the efforts of our citizens with disabilities to live independently in the community of their choice. SILC works to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence and productivity of individuals with disabilities, facilitating integration and full inclusion into the mainstream of American society. SILC is composed of twenty-two members appointed by the governor. It is required that the majority of SILC members are individuals with disabilities and provide statewide representation.

Yavonka G. Archaga of Kenner has been appointed to the Louisiana Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC). Ms. Archaga is the CEO of Resources for Independent Living, Inc. She will serve as a director of a center for independent living, chosen by the directors of centers for independent living within the state.

Louisiana State Interagency Coordinating Council for EarlySteps

The Louisiana State Interagency Coordinating Council for EarlySteps serves to advise and assist the Lead Agency in the performance of its responsibilities, particularly in regard to: (a) identification of the sources of fiscal and other support for early intervention services; (b) assignment of financial responsibility to the appropriate agency; and, (c) promotion of interagency agreements. The board also advises and assists the Lead Agency in the preparation of applications, the transition of infants and toddlers to preschool or other appropriate services at age three, and the preparation and submission of an annual report to the Governor and to appropriate federal authorities on the Status of EarlySteps.

Kathyrne Downing Hart of Baton Rouge was reappointed to the Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Steps. Ms. Hart is employed by Albemarle as a master production scheduler. She will serve as a parent of a child with disabilities age twelve or younger, with knowledge of or experience in programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities and will also serve as chair of the council.

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