Commission lacks quorum; membership nominations postponed, adjourns after presentations

The Louisiana Commission on HIV and Hepatitis C Education, Prevention, and Treatment met Oct. 8, 2024, at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge but did not have a quorum, preventing formal votes on nominations and prior meeting minutes. Dr. Tavell Kindall, the commission chair, called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m. and Aisha McKenzie, senior strategic coordinator for the STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program (SHHP) at the Louisiana Department of Health, completed roll call with 12 members present and reported that a quorum was not met.

Dr. Phillip Griffin, chair of the Membership Committee, presented three nominees the committee recommended and noted a fourth potential applicant beginning the process. Because a quorum was not present the commission postponed any review and the vote to forward nominees to the governor until the November meeting. Dr. Kindall also told commissioners that under Act 491 the governor now has the authority to appoint the commission chair; until an appointment is made the commission will conduct its customary chair election in November.

Shortly after the meeting began, capitol broadcast staff reported the public broadcast was not transmitting sound; the meeting was restarted at 9:18 a.m., during which the chair reintroduced topics and roll was called again. Several items on the agenda that would have required formal votes were handled by consensus but not recorded as votes because the body lacked quorum.

Before adjourning, commissioners set the next meeting for Nov. 12, 2024 (hybrid), at 9:00 a.m. Tamachia Davenport motioned to adjourn; Dr. George Nawas seconded, and the commission adjourned at 11:03 a.m.