SLS 20RS-685 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 433
BY SENATOR MIZELL
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. Provides that a mandatory reporter of child abuse has cause to
suspect abuse if a child under the age of thirteen is pregnant. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact Children's Code Article 609(A)(1), relative to child abuse reporting
3 and investigation; to provide that a mandatory reporter of child abuse has cause to
4 suspect abuse if a child under the age of thirteen is pregnant; and to provide for
5 related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. Children's Code Article 609(A)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted to
8 read as follows:
9 Art. 609. Mandatory and permitted reporting; training requirements
10 A. With respect to mandatory reporters:
11 (1)(a) Notwithstanding any claim of privileged communication, any
12 mandatory reporter who has cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health
13 or welfare is endangered as a result of abuse or neglect or that abuse or neglect was
14 a contributing factor in a child's death shall report in accordance with Article 610.
15 (b) For purposes of this Article, the pregnancy of a child under the age
16 of thirteen years shall constitute cause to believe that the child has been abused.
17 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 433
SLS 20RS-685 ORIGINAL
1 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
2 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
3 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
4 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alden A. Clement Jr.
DIGEST
SB 433 Original 2020 Regular Session Mizell
Present law provides that any "mandatory reporter", as defined by present law, who has
cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare is endangered as a result
of abuse or neglect, or that abuse or neglect was a contributing factor in a child's death, must
report that suspected abuse to the proper authorities in accordance with present law.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that, for purposes of the reporting requirements
of present law, the pregnancy of a child under the age of 13 years constitutes cause to believe
that the child has been abused.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends Ch.C. Art. 609(A)(1))
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.