Sen. Price’s Senate Bill 104 to reorganize the Empowering Families to Live Well Louisiana Council was reported favorably by the House Committee of Health and Welfare on May 20.

The bill, read into the record by committee staff, would reduce the council’s membership from 35 to 25 and change its meeting frequency from six times a year to quarterly. Sen. Price said the changes are intended to improve the council’s ability to obtain quorums and function effectively.

The measure also carried an adopted amendment (Amendment 3034) to add one member representing Elevate Louisiana. Committee staff described the first amendment in the packet as technical and the second as adding the Elevate Louisiana representative; the committee chair announced the amendment was adopted after no members objected.

Sen. Price said the reorganization is intended to allow the council to “function properly” and to reduce quorum problems. A member of the committee, Rob Chastell, asked that the bill be reported favorably; the chair asked for objections, and, hearing none, said the bill was reported with amendments.

No statutory citations or fiscal appropriations were introduced during the discussion; the sponsor framed the changes as organizational. The committee listed one green card in support from Tom Costana with the Catholic Conference of Catholic Bishops (present but not wishing to speak).

The committee’s action was procedural: amendment adopted and motion to report the bill with amendments, with no recorded roll-call vote.