HLS 16RS-419 ENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 97
BY REPRESENTATIVES SMITH AND HORTON
CHILDREN/ABUSE: Requires that the state child protection toll-free hotline number be
posted on the website of every public school
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:81(Y) and 3996(B)(35), relative to requirements for posting
3 the state child protection toll-free hotline number in public schools; to provide that
4 public school governing authorities adopt rules and regulations to require each public
5 school under its jurisdiction to post on its website the state child protection toll-free
6 hotline number; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 17:81(Y) and 3996(B)(35) are hereby amended and reenacted to read
9as follows:
10 §81. General powers of local public school boards
11 * * *
12 Y.(1) The governing authority of each public elementary and secondary
13 school shall provide age- and grade-appropriate classroom instruction to all students
14 relative to child assault awareness and prevention. Such instruction shall be limited
15 to education on what constitutes abuse or an assault, and how students may safely
16 and confidentially report to a school official the circumstances surrounding any such
17 abuse or assaults.
18 (2) Such instruction shall be integrated into the curriculum of an existing
19 required course, such as health education, physical education, or another required
20 course deemed appropriate by the school governing authority.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-419 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 97
1 (3) The governing authority of each public school shall adopt rules and
2 regulations necessary for the implementation of this Subsection. Such rules and
3 regulations shall include a requirement that each public school under its jurisdiction
4 post on its website the number for the child protection toll-free hotline operated by
5 the Department of Children and Family Services to receive reports of child abuse and
6 neglect.
7 * * *
8 §3996. Charter schools; exemptions; requirements
9 B. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and
10 except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a
11 charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this
12 Chapter and its approved charter and the school's officers and employees shall be
13 exempt from all statutory mandates or other statutory requirements that are
14 applicable to public schools and to public school officers and employees except for
15 the following laws otherwise applicable to public schools with the same grades:
16 * * *
17 (35) Instruction and hotline number posting requirements relative to child
18 assault awareness and prevention, R.S. 17:81(Y).
19 * * *
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)]
HB 97 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Smith
Abstract: Requires that the state child protection toll-free hotline number be posted on the
website of every public school.
Present law requires public school governing authorities to provide age- and grade-
appropriate classroom instruction relative to child assault awareness and prevention.
Requires that instruction be integrated into an existing required course and limits instruction
to what constitutes abuse or assault and how students may safely and confidentially report
abuse or assault to a school official. Requires such governing authorities to adopt rules and
regulations for the implementation of present law, which is applicable to all public schools,
including charter schools. Proposed law adds requirement that such rules and regulations
include a requirement that each public school post on its website the number for the child
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-419 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 97
protection toll-free hotline operated by the Dept. of Children and Family Services to receive
reports of child abuse and neglect.
(Amends R.S. 17:81(Y) and 3996(B)(35))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Instead of requiring that the state child protection toll-free hotline number be
posted on a sign at every public school, require that it be posted on every public
school's website.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.