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HB 1214

HEALTH/LDH: Establishes the office of state health care facilities within the La. Dept. of Health and provides for the administration of certain state healthcare facilities

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dustin Miller

Creates a centralized Office of State Health Care Facilities within LDH to oversee and coordinate multiple state health care facilities and related operations.

Effective date: 10/01/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 1214

Summary of HB 1214 (2026) – Louisiana

Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes the Office of State Health Care Facilities (OSHCF) within the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).
  • Transfers and consolidates responsibility for several state health care facilities and related operations from existing LDH units to OSHCF.
  • Aims to centralize administration, coordination, and oversight of designated state health care facilities, and authorize expansion subject to legislative funding.

Key Provisions

Creation and Authority

  • Creates OSHCF within LDH.
  • OSHCF is responsible for leading, coordinating, and administering state health care facilities, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.
  • LDH will employ an executive director of OSHCF; facility administrators/executive officers report directly to the OSHCF executive director.
  • The secretary of LDH directly controls the executive office of the secretary and OSHCF. In the secretary’s absence, the secretary may act on behalf of an assistant secretary, including as appointing authority for personnel actions.

Facilities Administered by OSHCF

OSHCF shall administer and coordinate the following facilities (and any other licensed state health care facility funded by the Legislature):
1. Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System (Jackson)
2. Central Louisiana State Hospital (Pineville)
3. Feliciana Forensic Facility
4. Villa Feliciana Medical Complex (Jackson)
5. Pinecrest Supports and Services Center
6. Central Louisiana Supports and Services Center
7. Any other state health care facility funded by the Legislature

Forensic and Psychiatric Care

  • Transfers oversight of certain psychiatric and forensic facilities from the Office of Behavioral Health to OSHCF.
  • OSHCF may open independent facilities (no longer limited to satellite arrangements) and may establish additional forensic facilities in or near specified locations as allowed by law and funding.

Developmental Disabilities Facilities

  • Reorganizes oversight of developmental disability facilities:
    • Removes Northwest Supports and Services Center and North Lake Supports and Services Center from LDH’s list of designated developmental centers.
    • OSHCF will operate Pinecrest Supports and Services Center and Central Louisiana Supports and Services Center, with support from the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities.
    • Facility administrators will report to the OSHCF executive director (instead of the LDH secretary).
  • Property assignments: LDH will receive property assignments from individuals who receive services at state-operated facilities, consistent with applicable rules.

Aging, Nursing Homes, and Related Programs

  • Repeals the current arrangement in which the Office of Aging and Adult Services administers state-operated nursing homes and Villa Feliciana Medical Complex.
  • LDH may transfer funding and positions within the department to establish and implement OSHCF provisions.

Miscellaneous

  • Allows LDH to reallocate staff and funding to support the new OSHCF structure.
  • Effective date: Upon the governor’s signature or the lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

Affected Parties

  • State health care facilities currently under LDH oversight (psychiatric, forensic, geriatric, and developmental disability facilities).
  • Administrators and chief executive officers of these facilities (reporting to the OSHCF executive director).
  • The LDH secretary and the executive office within LDH, including the Office of Behavioral Health and the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities.
  • Clients/ residents of the specified facilities (transitioning oversight from multiple LDH offices to OSHCF).
  • Legislative budget process remains a factor, as additional facilities and expansions require appropriations.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Reorganization is contingent on funding from the Legislature for any newly established or expanded facilities.
  • The executive director of OSHCF will be appointed by LDH and will report to the LDH secretary.
  • Repeals and amendments to multiple statutory provisions are included to implement the new structure and to streamline authority over facilities and property assignments.
  • Effective date is immediate upon governor’s signature or after the constitutional period for gubernatorial action.

Notable Details

  • The bill repeals certain existing provisions related to the Office of Aging and Adult Services’ control of nursing homes, consolidating these functions under OSHCF where feasible.
  • Adds specific new sections (e.g., R.S. 36:253.1, 258(N), and 258.1) to codify the OSHCF framework and facility responsibilities.

If you’d like, I can provide a crosswalk showing which current LDH units are shifting into OSHCF and a timeline of anticipated milestones (e.g., implementation steps, reporting requirements, funding needs).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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