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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 54
BY SENATOR BROOME
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact Children's Code Articles 793.1, 793.3 and 793.4, relative to early2
intervention programs; to authorize the program in East Baton Rouge Parish; to3
provide certain procedures, terms, conditions and fees; to provide for a method of4
collecting and depositing fees to fund such early intervention program; and to5
provide for related matters.6
Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. Children's Code Articles 793.1, 793.3 and 793.4 are hereby amended and9
reenacted to read as follows: 10
Art. 793.1. Early intervention program s; authorization; purpose11
The purpose of this Article and Articles 793.2 through 793.4 is to authorize the12
creation of an early intervention programs, hereinafter referred to as the "program", in the13
parishes of East Baton Rouge, Iberia, St. Mary, and St. Martin. The purpose of the program14
shall be to address the underlying causes of behavioral problems and school performance15
problems related to behavior by pooling existing resources targeted at the child and family16
through appropriate action by service and treatment providers. The legislature finds:17
(1) Research indicates that early identification and intervention of18
aggressive, antisocial, or delinquent behaviors are critical to the prevention of19
juvenile delinquency in later years.20
(2) Research also indicates that school-based preventive tactics for violent21
ACT No. 479 SB NO. 54 ENROLLED
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or aggressive behaviors are beneficial to the overall academic success of children,1
especially when such programs include parental involvement in prevention and2
intervention strategies.3
(3)(a) The district attorney of Iberia, St. Mary, and St. Martin parishes, in4
conjunction with the local school boards in such parishes, has demonstrated a5
willingness to address behavioral problems or school performance problems related6
to behavior by providing physical locations in each parish where personnel can work7
together in a coordinated effort.8
(b) The district attorney of East Baton Rouge Parish, in conjunction9
with the local school boards in such parish, has demonstrated a willingness to10
address behavioral problems or school performance problems related to11
behavior by providing physical locations in the parish where personnel can12
work together in a coordinated effort.13
(4) Early intervention has been demonstrated as the key to providing the14
greatest chance for correcting the actions of youth who demonstrate a propensity for15
destructive or criminal behavior.16
(5) The earliest possible venue for addressing the problem begins in the17
elementary grades.18
(6) By intervening at this phase, it is possible to correct potential delinquent19
behavior before the changes for correction become insurmountable.20
* * *21
Art. 793.3. Reporting; funding; implementation; termination22
A. No later than June fifteenth of each year, the district attorney shall report23
statistical data indicating the effectiveness of the program to the appropriate standing24
committees of the legislature for use by the committees in consideration of25
expansion of the program.26
B. The program shall be implemented in three phases as follows:27
(1) Phase one shall be implemented in grades pre-kindergarten through six.28
(2) Phase two shall be implemented in grades seven and eight.29
(3) Phase three shall be implemented in grades nine through twelve.30 SB NO. 54 ENROLLED
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C. All children who enroll in a public school within the Sixteenth Judicial1
District or the Nineteenth Judicial District in grades pre-kindergarten to sixth shall2
be required to follow all compulsory attendance requirements in R.S. 17:221 et seq.3
and all families in need of services provisions in Children's Code Article 726 et seq.4
D. The implementation of this program may be subject to appropriation of5
funds by the legislature for such purpose.6
Art. 793.4. Early intervention fund; fees collected7
A. In all criminal matters except for matters involving traffic violations in8
the parishes of East Baton Rouge, Iberia, St. Mary, and St. Martin, there shall be9
taxed against every defendant who is convicted after trial or after a plea of guilty or10
nolo contendere or who forfeits his bond, a sum in the amount of twenty-five dollars11
for each misdemeanor and fifty dollars for each felony, which shall be in addition to12
all other fines, costs, or forfeitures lawfully imposed, and which shall be transmitted13
to the sheriff of the respective parish for further disposition in accordance with the14
provisions of this Article.15
B.(1) The sheriff of the respective parish in the Sixteenth Judicial District16
shall deposit all sums collected or received pursuant to this Article in a separate17
account to be designated as the Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Early18
Intervention Fund. 19
(2) The sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish shall deposit all sums20
collected or received pursuant to this Article in a separate account to be21
designated as the Nineteenth Judicial District Attorney Early Intervention22
Fund.23
C. The sheriff shall remit on a quarterly basis funds collected in such24
account to the office of the district attorney of the respective parish.25
D. The district attorney shall cause to be conducted on an annual basis an26
audit of the fund and the books and accounts relating thereto and shall file such audit27
information with the office of the legislative auditor where it shall be available for28
public inspection.29
E. In matters involving any court other than the district court, the clerk of30 SB NO. 54 ENROLLED
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court or the appropriate court personnel shall remit the money to the sheriff of the1
respective parish.2
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: