Authority; general purpose; duties

A. The Institute for Public Health and Justice, organized under authority of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, is hereby designated as an advisor to the legislature on matters related to youth in the criminal justice system and youth with behavioral health needs. B. The Institute for Public Health and Justice shall act at the direction of the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate, in consultation with the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission. C. (1) The Institute for Public Health and Justice shall serve as a resource for best practices in the juvenile justice field, including promising local models of juvenile justice reform and national best practices models. (2) The Institute for Public Health and Justice shall provide technical assistance to the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission, review the implementation of juvenile justice reform, and prepare annual reports to be submitted to the legislature and the governor. D. The Institute for Public Health and Justice may work in partnership with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and with other institutions of higher learning to fulfill the purposes of this Chapter. E. The Institute for Public Health and Justice may work in partnership with the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, youth services, office of juvenile justice, to fulfill the purposes of this Chapter. Any release of data by the office of juvenile justice shall be subject to approval by the deputy secretary for youth services. Information may be provided on a per project basis, and the Institute for Public Health and Justice shall maintain the confidentiality of legally protected juvenile information. The Institute for Public Health and Justice shall not use any information shared pursuant to this Subsection for any proprietary purpose.