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           A. The Louisiana Department of Health shall have the power, and its duty shall be, to make grants available to parishes, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations for community-based prevention education programs relating to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) aimed at one or more target populations comprised of individuals who are at risk of contracting and transmitting AIDS and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Where a parish or municipality has a health department, grants to be made to a nonprofit organization located in that parish or municipality shall be made in consultation with the parish or municipal health department.

           B. Grants shall be awarded to nonprofit organizations, municipalities, or parishes, or any combination of these, provided they meet measurable standards as determined by the department. Awards shall be granted on a competitive basis. Grants shall be awarded to prevention education programs who provide the following services:

           (1) Individual face-to-face contact between program outreach personnel and the target population in the areas frequented by such population.

           (2) Outreach personnel who are able to communicate effectively with persons in the target population.

           (3) Distribution of written information tailored to and easily understandable by the target population, explaining how AIDS and the HIV virus is transmitted and how individuals can reduce their risk of becoming infected.

           (4) A system of referring members of the target population, upon request, to HIV testing sites, counseling programs, and health care providers or systems to the extent such sites, programs, or providers exist in that geographic area.

           (5) Initial and ongoing training for all outreach personnel on the means by which AIDS and the HIV virus are transmitted, how individuals can reduce their risk of becoming infected and on the program’s systems of referrals for testing, counseling, health care, and drug and alcohol treatment.

           C. Grants awarded under the provisions of this Section may be used in the distribution of materials or items useful in preventing the transmission of AIDS and the HIV virus.

           D. The Louisiana Department of Health, in awarding grants as provided for in this Section, shall give priority to community-based prevention and education programs which are geared toward the provision of services to target populations identified by the department, to include but not be limited to the following:

           (1) Intravenous drug users.

           (2) Persons who have numerous sexual contacts with intravenous drug users or with other persons who are at a high risk of having the HIV virus.

           (3) Racial or ethnic minorities, including persons whose primary language is not English, who are engaged in high-risk behavior.

           E. The Louisiana Department of Health shall coordinate with existing HIV/AIDS related community-based prevention and education programs to plan for the implementation and expansion of such services through this grant program. Grants awarded under the provisions of this Section shall be monitored and evaluated by the Louisiana Department of Health. Ongoing support for these services shall be contingent upon these programs accomplishing stated goals and objectives and effectively reaching the target populations as determined in the measurable standards outlined by the department.

           F. The department shall actively solicit and use federal resources to fund this grant program. The provisions of this Section shall be applicable only to the extent that funds are made available from federal sources for this purpose.

           Acts 1995, No. 876, §1, eff. June 28, 1995.