HLS 21RS-761 ENGROSSED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 522
BY REPRESENTATIVE SELDERS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CHILDREN/DCFS: Provides relative to processing of reports of child abuse and neglect
by the Dept. of Children and Family Services
1 AN ACT
2To enact Children's Code Article 612(A)(5) and (6), relative to child abuse; to provide for
3 child abuse or neglect reporting and investigation; to provide with respect to the
4 administrative procedure of completing a preliminary investigation or assessment;
5 to provide for services to families in instances when reports are denied; to provide
6 for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Children's Code Article 612(A)(5) and (6) are hereby enacted to read as
9follows:
10 Art. 612. Assignment of reports for investigation and assessment; conclusion of
11 investigation and assessment; provision of information
12 A.
13 * * *
14 (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraphs (A)(2) and (3) of this
15 Article, if information is obtained from a professional or credible source that if
16 provided initially would have determined that the initial report did not meet the
17 criteria for acceptance, the department may administratively close a report of abuse
18 or neglect that was previously accepted without completing the preliminary
19 investigation or assessment.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 21RS-761 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 522
1 (6) The department may, at its discretion, provide information on available
2 services in the community to a family if a report of abuse or neglect of a child does
3 not meet the criteria for acceptance for an investigation or assessment.
4 * * *
5 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
6signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
7by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
8vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
9effective on the day following such approval.
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 522 Engrossed 2021 Regular Session Selders
Abstract: Provides relative to the procedure of closing reports of abuse or neglect of a
child.
Present law provides procedures for reports of child abuse or neglect for children not in the
custody of the state, which includes an assessment of the level of risk and an investigation
into the nature, extent, and cause of the abuse, and a determination of the person responsible
for the abuse.
Proposed law provides that if information is obtained from a professional or credible source
that if provided initially would have revealed that the initial report did not meet the criteria
for acceptance, the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) may administratively
close a report of abuse or neglect that was previously accepted without completing the
preliminary investigation or assessment.
Proposed law states that DCFS may notify the family of services that may be available in
the community to assist the family if a report of abuse or neglect of a child is not accepted
for investigation or assessment.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds Ch.C. Art. 612(A)(5) and (6))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.