2020 Second Extraordinary Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 50
BY SENATOR JACKSON
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Department of Children and Family Services and the Louisiana
Department of Health to study and develop mechanisms and processes to further
protect developmentally and physically disabled state benefit recipients from sexual
and physical exploitation or abuse and to present the findings and make
recommendations for legislation to the Senate Select Committee on Women and
Children no later than February 28, 2021.
WHEREAS, the Department of Children and Family Services administers and
supervises the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) State Plan which provides
financial assistance and supplemental nutrition for low-income children and adults, many
of whom suffer from developmental or physical disabilities; and
WHEREAS, when a developmentally disabled or physically disabled individuals is
entitled to TANF benefits, a caregiver may qualify to receive those TANF benefits on behalf
of the disabled individual; and
WHEREAS, recent medical testimony before the Senate Select Committee on
Women and Children revealed that certain developmentally delayed patients were being
sexually and physically exploited and abused by caregivers; and
WHEREAS, studies have shown that children are more likely to be abused if they
are living with certain caregivers and adults with developmental disabilities are more likely
to be abused compared to the general population; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Health administers the state's Medicaid
program, which is the state's health coverage for low-income children and adults who receive
TANF assistance; and
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WHEREAS, Medicaid health benefits cover an annual wellness visit or routine
medical examination for each beneficiary with a primary care physician or other health care
provider; and
WHEREAS, although the Department of Children and Family Services and the
Louisiana Department of Health both have programs to assess and review the suitability of
caregivers, further resources may be needed to protect developmentally and physically
disabled children and adults from exploitation and abuse by caregivers; and
WHEREAS, it would further protect efforts to require certain physically or
developmentally disabled children who are recipients of TANF benefits to undergo annual
medical examinations with their primary care physicians outside of the view of caregivers
so as to eliminate or minimize the possibility of sexual or physical exploitation or abuse; and
WHEREAS, it would further protection efforts to require certain physically or
developmentally disabled individuals who are recipients of TANF benefits to undergo
annual medical examinations with their primary care physicians outside of the view of their
caregivers so as to eliminate or minimize the possibility of sexual or physical exploitation
or abuse.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request the Department of Children and Family Services and the
Louisiana Department of Health to study and develop mechanisms and processes to further
protect developmentally and physically disabled state benefit recipients from sexual and
physical exploitation or abuse and to present the findings and make recommendations for
legislation to the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children no later than
February 28, 2021.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Department of Children and Family Services and the Louisiana Department of Health.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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