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 488 Original 2018 Regular Session Amedee
Abstract: Adds the crime of female genital mutilation to the list of crimes against a child which
must be reported to law enforcement or to DCFS.
Present law (R.S. 14:403) defines "sexual abuse" and provides that any person who is 18 years of
age or older who witnesses the sexual abuse of a child and knowingly and willfully fails to report
the sexual abuse to law enforcement or to DCFS shall be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned
with or without hard labor for not more than five years, or both.
Proposed law retains present law and adds the crime of "female genital mutilation" to the list of
crimes which constitute the failure to report sexual abuse of a child.
Proposed law (Ch.C. Art. 502 and 603) also adds "female genital mutilation" to the definitions of
"abuse", "sexual abuse", and "crime against the child" as they relate to various provisions of the
Children's Code applicable to the protection of children and child in need of care proceedings.
Present law (Ch.C. Art. 606) provides for the grounds which must be asserted in child in need of care
proceedings.
Proposed law retains present law and provides an additional ground to be asserted that the child is
a victim of female genital mutilation or is the sister of a child who has had the crime of female
genital mutilation committed upon her.
(Amends R.S. 14:403(A)(4)(b); Adds C.Ch. Arts. 502(1)(d) and 4(r), 603(2)(e), and (12)(t), and
606(A)(8))