ENROLLED
ACT No. 234
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 97
BY REPRESENTATIVES SMITH, AMEDEE, BACALA, BAGLEY, BAGNERIS, BOUIE,
TERRY BROWN, GARY CARTER, ROBBY CARTER, COX, DEVILLIER,
EDMONDS, EMERSON, HALL, HILFERTY, HILL, HORTON, JEFFERSON,
JENKINS, NANCY LANDRY, TERRY LANDRY, LEBAS, LYONS, MAGEE,
MARCELLE, MORENO, JAY MORRIS, PIERRE, PRICE, PUGH, PYLANT, AND
STOKES
1 AN ACT
2 To 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.
7 Be 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
9 as 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. HB NO. 97 ENROLLED
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 * * *
10 B. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and
11 except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a
12 charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this
13 Chapter and its approved charter and the school's officers and employees shall be
14 exempt from all statutory mandates or other statutory requirements that are
15 applicable to public schools and to public school officers and employees except for
16 the following laws otherwise applicable to public schools with the same grades:
17 * * *
18 (35) Instruction and hotline number posting requirements relative to child
19 assault awareness and prevention, R.S. 17:81(Y).
20 * * *
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.