ENROLLED
ACT No. 104
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 768
BY REPRESENTATIVES HOFFMANN, BAGLEY, CHANEY, COX, HENSGENS,
HORTON, JACKSON, LEBAS, POPE, RICHARD, STAGNI, AND STOKES
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact Children's Code Article 610(A), relative to child abuse and neglect
3 reporting; to provide for reporting of child abuse and neglect in military families; to
4 provide for the duties of the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services
5 in reporting child abuse and neglect to the United States Department of Defense
6 Family Advocacy Program; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Children's Code Article 610(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read
9 as follows:
10 Art. 610. Reporting procedure; report reports to the legislature and the United
11 States Department of Defense Family Advocacy Program
12 A. (1) Reports of child abuse or neglect or that such was a contributing factor
13 in a child's death, where the abuser is believed to be a parent or caretaker, a person
14 who maintains an interpersonal dating or engagement relationship with the parent or
15 caretaker, or a person living in the same residence with the parent or caretaker as a
16 spouse whether married or not, shall be made immediately to the department through
17 the designated state child protection reporting hotline telephone number. Reports in
18 which the abuse or neglect is believed to be perpetrated by someone other than a
19 caretaker, a person who maintains an interpersonal dating or engagement relationship
20 with the parent or caretaker, or a person living in the same residence with the parent
21 or caretaker as a spouse whether married or not, and the caretaker is not believed to
22 have any responsibility for the abuse or neglect shall be made immediately to a local
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 768 ENROLLED
1 or state law enforcement agency. Dual reporting to both the department through the
2 designated state child protection reporting hotline telephone number and the local or
3 state law enforcement agency is permitted.
4 (2) In an investigation of a report of abuse or neglect allegedly committed
5 by a person responsible for a child's care, custody, or welfare, the department shall
6 determine whether the person is an active duty member of the United States Armed
7 Forces or the spouse of a member on active duty. If the department determines the
8 person is an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces or the spouse of
9 a member on active duty, the department shall notify the United States Department
10 of Defense Family Advocacy Program at the closest active duty military installation
11 of the investigation.
12 * * *
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.