RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 400 (SB 109) 2019 Regular Session Barrow
Prior law provided for the confidentiality of foster care client case records and waiver of that
confidentiality only under certain circumstances and with certain approvals. New law retains
prior law and provides that the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or a
department contractor, with written consent of the foster child, may furnish certain
information for education, training, and to provide perspective or foster care experience.
Prior law provided for an extended stay in foster care for children housed in a residential
home. New law retains prior law and provides that a child can stay in foster care if he is
housed at a residential home, transitional placing program, or in foster care until his 21st
birthday while participating in an extended foster care program.
New law establishes an extended foster care program for children who are at least 18 years
old but less than 21 years old. New law provides for definitions, program eligibility, a
voluntary placement agreement, a written court report, court jurisdiction, internal
administrative reviews, program participation termination, and extension of an adoption or
guardianship subsidy.
With respect to extended foster care proceedings, new law provides exclusive original
jurisdiction for review of the written report by a court exercising juvenile jurisdiction to
make a determination of whether it is in the youth's best interest to continue in extended
foster care in a voluntary placement.
Prior law provided for extension of foster care for certain high school students. New law
repeals prior law and incorporates education as a determination of eligibility for the program
established by new law.
Effective upon signature of governor (June 19, 2019).
(Amends the heading of Ch. 3 of Title III of the Children's Code, the heading of Ch.C. Art.
303, and R.S. 46:56(F)(7)(c) and 1403.1; adds Ch.C. Art. 303(12) and R.S. 46:288.1-288.10;
repeals R.S. 46:286.24)