Louisiana Governor's Office issued the following announcement on Dec. 4.
Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his appointments to several Louisiana boards and commissions.
Board of Tax Appeals
The Board of Tax Appeals is a quasi-judicial state agency whose statutory mission is to resolve equitably, fairly, expeditiously and independently any state tax dispute between individual, corporate and other taxpayers and state agencies including the Department of Revenue, Wildlife and Fisheries, and Health and Hospitals, as mandated by R.S. 47:1401 et. seq. The Board supports the State's right to collect all taxes to which it is entitled while at the same time protecting the taxpayer's rights to an inexpensive, convenient, prompt, and fair judicial determination, consistent with the provisions of its statutory powers and authority.
Cade R. Cole of Lake Charles has been reappointed to the Board of Tax Appeals. Cole is attorney at Sigler and Raglin Attorneys at Law. Cole was nominated by the local tax division nominating committee and is a board certified tax law specialist.
Francis J. Lobrano of Belle Chasse has been reappointed to the Board of Tax Appeals. Lobrano is an attorney and partner at Carver Darden Attorneys at Law. Lobrano is an attorney with tax law experience and is a board certified tax law specialist.
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.
Luis M. Alvarado M.D. of Franklinton has been reappointed to the Patient’s Compensation Fund Oversight Board. Alvarado is an internal medicine physician. Alvarado will serve as a representative of the class of health care providers contributing the greatest percentage of the fund’s aggregate surcharges.
Climate Initiatives Task Force
The Climate Initiatives Task Force’s mission is to build an inclusive science-driven process to lead Louisiana to cut statewide net greenhouse gas emissions progressively over the next fifty years.
Jeffrey E. Schwartz of New Orleans has been appointed to the Climate Initiatives Task Force. Schwartz is the director of economic development for the City of New Orleans and will serve the board as a representative of a local government perspective.
Louisiana Military Advisory Council
The Military Advisory Council serves to provide a forum for issues concerning the installations and units of the armed forces located in Louisiana and the military and retired military personnel and their families who reside in Louisiana.
Richard L. Allen of Leesville has been appointed to the Louisiana Military Advisory Council. Allen is the mayor of Leesville and the owner of Rick Allen Construction Management. Allen will serve as an advocate for Fort Polk Progress.
Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission
The Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission is responsible for constructing, maintaining, repairing and operating the dual span bridge-Expressway and requisite approaches, and the Causeway Bridge across Lake Pontchartrain connecting Jefferson and St. Tammany Parishes. In addition, in Act 762 of 1986 the State has asked the Commission to police the Huey P. Long Bridge across the Mississippi River.
Gary Glenn Cooper of Bush has been appointed to the Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission. Cooper is retired and was recommended by the St. Tammany Parish Legislative Delegation.
John K. Kelly Grand Bayou Reservoir District
The John K. Kelly Grand Bayou Reservoir District’s mission is to provide raw water for the use of rural and municipal water systems in Red River Parish and adjacent areas and to provide water recreational opportunities for the public.
Dallas J. Bryan of Coushatta has been reappointed to the John K. Kelly Grand Bayou Reservoir District. Bryan is the former president of the Red River Parish Chamber of Commerce.
Peggy A. McCoy of Coushatta has been reappointed to the John K. Kelly Grand Bayou Reservoir District. McCoy has worked as a judicial administrator for the 39th Judicial District Court for over 52 years.
Mary A. Wiggins of Coushatta has been reappointed to the John K. Kelly Grand Bayou Reservoir District. Wiggins is a retired educator and merchant.
Early Identification of Deaf or Hard of Hearing Infants Advisory Council
The council advises the Office of Public Health on various aspects of the development and implementation of the Early Identification of Hearing Impairment in Infants Law, which includes making recommendations on risk factors for hearing loss, program standards and quality assurance, program integration with community resources, materials for distribution, and program implementation and follow-up.
Allan W. Estes of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Early Identification of Deaf or Hard of Hearing Infants Advisory Council. Estes is retired and will serve the council as a member who is deaf.
State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision
Each member state shall create a State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision which shall be responsible for the appointment of the commissioner who shall serve on the Interstate Commission from that state. Each state council shall appoint as its commissioner the Compact Administrator from that state to serve on the Interstate Commission in such capacity under or pursuant to applicable law of the member state. While each member state may determine the membership of its own state council, its membership must include at least one representative from the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government, victims’ groups and compact administrators. Each compacting state retains the right to determine the qualifications of the Compact Administrator who shall be appointed by the state council or by the Governor in consultation with the Legislature and the Judiciary. In addition to appointment of its commissioner to the National Interstate Commission, each state council shall exercise oversight and advocacy concerning its participation in Interstate Commission activities and other duties as may be determined by each member state including but not limited to, development of policy concerning operations and procedures of the compact within that state.
Bobby J. “Jaime” Lee Jr. of Lafayette has been appointed to the State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision. Lee is the director of probation and parole at the Department of Public Safety. Lee will serve the council as the compact administrator.
Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East Board of Commissioners
The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East sets policy and manages flood protection operations in Jefferson, Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes on the east bank of the Mississippi River. Specifically, the Flood Protection Authority is responsible for flood protection systems; the new Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS); the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) Levee System; and the Interior Non-Federal Levee Systems.
Richard G. Duplantier Jr. of New Orleans has been appointed to the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East Board of Commissioners. Duplantier is an attorney and will serve the board as both a professional in another discipline and as a resident of Orleans Parish.
Clay A. Cosse’ of Arabi has been reappointed to the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East Board of Commissioners. Cosse’ is a former St. Bernard Parish council member and will serve the board in an at-large capacity and as a resident of St. Bernard Parish.
Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-West Board of Commissioners
The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-West provides flood protection for the west side of the Mississippi River in Jefferson and Orleans parishes.
Scott M. Burke of Marrero has been reappointed to the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-West Board of Commissioners. Burke is the president and owner of Loop Linen Service. Burke will serve the board as both a professional in another discipline and as a resident of Jefferson Parish.
State Police Commission
The State Police Commission was created by constitutional amendment to provide an independent civil service system for all regularly commissioned full-time law enforcement officers employed by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Police, or its successor, who are graduates of the State Police training academy of instruction and are vested with full state police powers, as provided by law, and persons to become such offices. The mission of the State Police Commission is to provide an independent, merit-based, system to empower the State of Louisiana to recruit, develop, and retain a state police force with the highest level of professionalism and proactive engagement in providing service to and protection of Louisiana’s citizens and visitors.
Capt. Sabrina E. Richardson of New Orleans has been appointed to the State Police Commission. Richardson is a captain in the New Orleans Police Department and will represent the 2nd Congressional District.
Reentry Advisory Council
The Reentry Advisory Council was created to establish a more systematic approach to identifying obstacles that impede successful reentry of ex-offenders. The council is charged with developing and implementing effective reentry strategies that improve public safety.
The Honorable Fred T. D. Crifasi of Baton Rouge has been appointed to the Reentry Advisory Council. Crifasi is a judge in the 19th Judicial District Court and will represent the Louisiana District Judges’ Association.
Bridget A. Dinvaut of LaPlace has been reappointed to the Reentry Advisory Council. Dinvaut is a District Attorney for St. John the Baptist Parish and will represent the Louisiana District Attorneys’ Association.
Rev. Paul R. Murray of Prairieville has been reappointed to the Reentry Advisory Council. Murray is the senior pastor of the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and will represent the Louisiana Chaplain’s Association.
Joseph A. Prejean of Churchpoint has been appointed to the Reentry Advisory Council. Prejean is the owner of Big Poppa’s Fitness Gym.
Christian J. Rhodes of New Orleans has been appointed to the Reentry Advisory Council. Rhodes is a partner at Pelican State Partners and will represent the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
Original source can be found here.