HLS 15RS-4499 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 211
BY REPRESENTATIVE BARROW
DOMESTIC ABUSE: Authorizes the state domestic violence coalition to establish due
process procedures
1 A RESOLUTION
2To authorize and direct the state domestic violence coalition of Louisiana to adopt policies
3 and procedures for ensuring the due process rights of members of the coalition and
4 domestic violence services providers.
5 WHEREAS, the House of Representatives of the Louisiana Legislature has long
6recognized the need to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of this state; and
7 WHEREAS, the House of Representatives recognizes the need of Louisiana citizens
8to feel safe in their own homes and recognizes that too often Louisiana residents are abused
9by the people with whom they are most closely associated; and
10 WHEREAS, the House of Representatives recognizes the social need to address the
11issue of domestic violence that is directed primarily against women; and
12 WHEREAS, domestic violence assails an individual's right to privacy, dignity,
13security, and humanity, inflicts physical, emotional, and financial injury on its victims, and
14exists in every segment of our population; and
15 WHEREAS, federal law mandates the creation of state domestic violence coalitions
16which serve as statewide leaders in the efforts to end domestic violence by connecting local
17domestic violence service providers and are valuable resources for information about
18services, programs, legislation, and policies that support survivors of domestic violence; and
19 WHEREAS, one of the goals of state domestic violence coalitions is to improve
20domestic violence intervention and prevention in their states by ensuring cross-coordinated,
21best practice solutions are implemented and sustained; and
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HR NO. 211
1 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence is the state domestic
2violence coalition of Louisiana and is a statewide coalition of shelters, nonresidential
3programs, and individuals who work together to deter domestic violence behavior; and
4 WHEREAS, to maintain crucial services for victims of domestic violence and their
5families, it is vital that the state domestic violence coalition of Louisiana does not take any
6action against a member of the coalition or domestic violence services provider that would
7adversely affect the member's or provider's ability to furnish shelter or supportive services
8to the victims of domestic abuse and their families in Louisiana unless all due process rights
9have been accorded to the member or provider.
10 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
11Legislature of Louisiana does hereby authorize and direct the Louisiana Coalition Against
12Domestic Violence, in its role as the state domestic violence coalition of Louisiana, to adopt
13all policies and procedures necessary for ensuring the due process rights of members of the
14coalition and domestic violence services providers.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the policies and procedures required by this
16Resolution shall prohibit the state domestic violence coalition of Louisiana from taking any
17action against a member of the coalition or domestic violence services provider that would
18adversely affect the member's or provider's ability to furnish shelter or supportive services
19to the victims of domestic abuse and their families in Louisiana unless both of the following
20conditions are satisfied:
21 (1) No less than thirty days prior to the disciplinary action being imposed, the state
22domestic violence coalition provides to the member or domestic violence services provider
23written notice containing a description of the proposed disciplinary action, the facts setting
24forth the basis for the proposed disciplinary action, and a statement that the member or
25provider has the right to request an appeal hearing before the state domestic violence
26coalition.
27 (2) If the member or domestic violence services provider requests an appeal hearing,
28the state domestic violence coalition gives the member or provider written notice of the
29scheduled appeal hearing and the opportunity to present arguments or evidence in support
30of the member's or provider's position.
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HR NO. 211
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the policies and procedures shall also require
2the state domestic violence coalition of Louisiana, no later than forty-eight hours after any
3disciplinary action is taken by the coalition against any member of the coalition or domestic
4violence services provider, to give written notice of the disciplinary action and the facts
5setting forth the basis for the disciplinary action to the Department of Children and Family
6Services, the House and Senate committees on health and welfare, and the representative and
7senator for any district for which the member or provider renders services.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this written notification and any other disclosure
9provided pursuant to this Resolution shall not contain any privileged communications or
10records and shall be communicated in strict compliance with the provisions of R.S.
1146:2124.1.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the policies and procedures required by this
13Resolution shall be adopted by the state domestic violence coalition of Louisiana no later
14than October 1, 2015.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted
16to the executive director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
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)]
HR 211 Original 2015 Regular Session Barrow
Authorizes and directs the state domestic violence coalition of La. to adopt policies and
procedures for ensuring the due process rights of members of the coalition and domestic
violence services providers no later than Oct. 1, 2015.
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