§ 20-15-1804 - Arkansas HIV-AIDS Minority Task Force -- Powers and duties. - Arkansas Statutes

20-15-1804. Arkansas HIV-AIDS Minority Task Force -- Powers and duties.

(a) The Arkansas HIV-AIDS Minority Task Force shall:

(1) (A) Conduct a series of public forums around the state to take public comment and to discuss the incidence of HIV-AIDS and the effectiveness of prevention and outreach programs within the minority population.

(B) One (1) of the public forums required under this subdivision (a)(1) shall be held in each of the state's congressional districts;

(2) Study ways to strengthen HIV and AIDS prevention programs and early intervention and treatment efforts in the state's African-American, Hispanic, and other minority communities;

(3) Study ways to address the needs of the state's minorities who have AIDS and their families; and

(4) Prepare and submit a report of task force findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Department of Health on or before November 1, 2008.

(b) The report required under subdivision (a)(4) of this section shall include:

(1) Specific strategies for reducing the risk of HIV and AIDS in the state's minority communities;

(2) A plan for exchanging information and ideas among minority community-based organizations that provide HIV and AIDS prevention services;

(3) The needs of prevention and treatment programs within minority communities and the resources that are available within minority communities;

(4) Specific strategies for ensuring that minority group members who are at risk of HIV infection and AIDS seek testing;

(5) Specific strategies for ensuring that minority group members with HIV or AIDS are provided with access to treatment and secondary prevention services;

(6) Specific strategies to help reduce or eliminate high-risk behaviors in minority group members who test negative for HIV or AIDS but continue to practice high-risk behaviors; and

(7) A plan to outline the implementation of the recommendations of the task force.

(c) The task force shall also consider development of the following:

(1) Risk reduction and education programs for groups determined by the task force to be at risk of HIV infection;

(2) In consultation with a wide range of community leaders, education programs for the public;

(3) Pilot programs for the long-term care of individuals with AIDS or an AIDS-related condition, including care in nursing homes and in alternative settings;

(4) Programs to expand regional outpatient treatment of individuals with AIDS or an AIDS-related condition;

(5) A program to assist communities, including communities of less than five thousand (5,000) population, in establishing AIDS task forces and support groups for individuals with AIDS, an AIDS-related condition, and HIV infection; and

(6) (A) A statewide HIV and AIDS prevention campaign directed toward minority group members who are at risk of HIV infection.

(B) The Arkansas Minority Health Commission shall assist in the development and administration of the campaign.

(C) The campaign to be considered under subdivision (c)(6)(A) of this section may do any of the following as resources dictate:

(i) Use a variety of means of communication, including television, radio, outdoor activities, public service announcements, and peer-to-peer outreach;

(ii) Provide information on the risk of HIV and AIDS infection and strategies to follow for prevention, early detection, and treatment;

(iii) Use culturally sensitive literature and educational materials; and

(iv) Promote the development of individual skills for behavior modification.