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 204 Original 2020 Regular Session James
Abstract: Requires the criminal history record information provided to a CASA program by the La.
Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information to include national criminal history record
information provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Present law provides that a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program is entitled to
information from the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information to ascertain
whether a person being considered for involvement with the CASA program has been arrested for,
or convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, any criminal offense.
Present law further provides that the bureau shall, upon request and after receipt of fingerprint cards
or other identifying information from the CASA program, survey its criminal history records and
identification files and provide a report promptly and in writing, providing only such information
as is necessary to specify whether or not that person has been arrested for or convicted of or pled
guilty or nolo contendere to any crime or crimes, the crime or crimes of which he has been arrested
for or convicted or to which he has pled guilty or nolo contendere, and the date or dates on which
they occurred.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that the CASA program may request the bureau to make a simultaneous request
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for similar criminal history information from other
jurisdictions.
Proposed law amends present law to provide when a criminal history records check is requested by
a CASA program pursuant to present law, the bureau shall also forward the fingerprints of the
individual who is the subject of the inquiry to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national
criminal history records check and shall provide the CASA program with the national criminal
history record information of the individual who is the subject of the inquiry.
(Amends R.S. 15:587.1(J))