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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 66
BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHRODER
CHILDREN: Continues the Task Force on Legal Representation in Child Protection Cases
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To continue and provide with respect to the Task Force on Legal Representation in Child2
Protection Cases created in the 2003 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana3
pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution No. 44 and continued pursuant to House4
Concurrent Resolution No. 59 of the 2004 Regular Session of the Legislature, House5
Concurrent Resolution No. 105 of the 2005 Regular Session of the Legislature,6
House Concurrent Resolution No. 137 of the 2007 Regular Session of the7
Legislature, and House Concurrent Resolution No. 5 of the 2012 Regular Session of8
the Legislature.9
WHEREAS, it is the duty of any responsible society to protect children from abuse10
and neglect when possible and to ensure a sound process for decisions relative to care and11
living arrangements of abused and neglected children; and12
WHEREAS, provision of counsel for abused and neglected children and their parents13
is an essential due process procedure mandated by law to ensure a sound and fair decision14
process relative to safety, permanency, and well-being of those children; and15
WHEREAS, the Task Force on Legal Representation in Child Protection Cases was16
originally created in the 2003 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana pursuant to17
House Concurrent Resolution No. 44 to study systemic issues and concerns related to the18
provision of legal representation for abused and neglected children and indigent parents in19
child protection cases and to make recommendations on how those services may be more20
effectively and efficiently provided and funded; and21 HLS 13RS-465 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, the work of the task force was continued by the Legislature of Louisiana1
through house concurrent resolutions in the 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2012 Regular Sessions2
of the Legislature; and3
WHEREAS, the provisions of Act Nos. 301, 321, and 664 of the 2004 Regular4
Session of the Legislature and Act No. 271 of the 2006 Regular Session of the Legislature5
were drafted from recommendations developed by the task force; and6
WHEREAS, the task force has met frequently since its inception, bringing together7
key stakeholders in the child protection system who have contributed greatly to its work,8
helping shape and realize the vision of a more effective and efficient system of providing9
legal representation in child protection cases; and10
WHEREAS, the implementation of recommendations issued to date by this task force11
has constructed a uniform statewide system of legal representation in child protection cases12
which emphasizes quality representation provided in an efficient manner.13
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby14
continue the Task Force on Legal Representation in Child Protection Cases through final15
adjournment of the 2014 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana in order to16
formalize and institutionalize an effective and efficient uniform system of representation in17
child protection cases.18
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the membership of the task force shall continue19
as provided in House Concurrent Resolution No. 5 of the 2012 Regular Session of the20
Legislature.21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall perform the following tasks:22
(1) Analyze the structure and functioning of children's representation, including23
funding, management, and quality assurance, and the efficacy of centralization.24
(2) Analyze the structure and functioning of parent representation, including25
funding, management, and quality assurance.26
(3) Consider potential changes to existing law, policy, procedure, data collection,27
and reporting prompted by such analysis.28
(4) Refer prospective amendments to law to the Children's Code Committee of the29
Louisiana State Law Institute.30 HLS 13RS-465 ORIGINAL
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(5) Make recommendations to ensure the permanence of a uniform statewide system1
of legal representation in child protection cases.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall make its final report to the3
House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure and the Senate Committee on Judiciary A4
prior to the convening of the 2014 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the final implementation phase of the task force6
shall be chaired by a member of the Louisiana Legislature.7
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the8
secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, the chief justice of the9
Louisiana Supreme Court, and the president of the Louisiana State Bar Association.10
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Schroder HCR No. 66
Continues the Task Force on Legal Representation in Child Protection Cases through final
adjournment of the 2014 R.S. Provides that the purpose of the task force is to formalize and
institutionalize an effective and efficient system of representation in child protection cases.