GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 466 2018 Regular Session Gisclair
(KEYWORD, SUMMARY, AND DIGEST as amended by Senate committee
amendments)
CHILDRENS CODE. Provides relative to court-appointed special advocates.
DIGEST
Present law (Ch.C. Art. 424.2) allows CASA to review relevant documents and to interview
parties and witnesses involved in the proceeding.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that the court may also grant the CASA
volunteer access to the home.
Present law (Ch.C. Art. 424.4) requires CASA volunteers to be notified of all administrative
review hearings related to the case.
Proposed law retains present law and requires that CASA volunteers be allowed to attend all
family team meetings as well as administrative review hearings related to the case, unless the
parent objects.
Present law (Ch.C. Art. 616) allows a court to screen individuals applying to work as a court
appointed special advocate for any justified reports of abuse or neglect.
Proposed law retains present law and adds CASA program staff members and board of
director members to those individuals who may be screened by a court for any justifiable
reports of abuse or neglect, if any such individuals have contact with children served by
CASA. Also deletes CASA volunteer from provisions regarding disclosure of certain
inconclusive information.
(Amends Ch.C. Arts. 424.2, 424.4(B), 616(C),(D) and (F))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Civil Law and
Procedure to the original bill:
1. Allow the court to prohibit a CASA volunteer from accessing the home in which
the child was placed.
2. Allow the parent to object to the CASA volunteer attending administrative
review hearings and family team meetings.
3. Add a condition that the individual have contact with children in order for the
court to search the central registry for CASA volunteers, staff members, and
board members.
4. Make changes to present law as it currently reads and as it will read once a
delayed effective date is triggered.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Make technical changes by removing conflicting provisions relating to present
law as it currently reads and as it will read once a delayed effective date is
triggered.
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Prepared by Xavier I. Alexander. Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary A to the
reengrossed bill
1. Revise language relative to CASA volunteer's access to the home.
2. Removes language that inconclusive investigation reports on a CASA volunteer
may be disclosed.
3. Changes "promulgation" to "adoption".
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Prepared by Xavier I. Alexander.