HLS 22RS-1930 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 70
BY REPRESENTATIVE FREEMAN
ATTORNEYS: Requests the La. Supreme Court to implement a minimum continuing legal
education requirement for district attorneys and judges on the topic of domestic
violence
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Louisiana Supreme Court to adopt minimum continuing legal
3 education requirements of certain judges, district attorneys, and assistant district
4 attorneys on the topic of domestic violence.
5 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor identified challenges Louisiana faces
6in its efforts to address domestic violence in its December 16, 2021, performance audit
7entitled "Challenges in Louisiana's Efforts to Address Domestic Violence"; and
8 WHEREAS, one such stated challenge is that "[w]hile state law requires law
9enforcement training on domestic violence, other entities involved in addressing domestic
10violence are not required to have such training. For example, there is no requirement for
11judges and district attorneys to receive domestic violence training"; and
12 WHEREAS, the audit goes on to state that "[b]ecause domestic violence is a
13complicated, dynamic issue, education on current best practices could improve how the
14judicial branch and law enforcement protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable"; and
15 WHEREAS, continuing legal education requirements of attorneys, including judges,
16district attorneys, and assistant district attorneys, are imposed by the supreme court.
17 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
18urge and request the Louisiana Supreme Court to impose a minimum of four hours of
19continuing legal education on the topic of domestic violence to be completed by district
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HCR NO. 70
1court, family court, and juvenile court judges, district attorneys, and assistant district
2attorneys as follows:
3 Beginning January 1, 2023, each district court, family court, and juvenile court judge
4shall receive a minimum of four hours of training on domestic violence, which shall include
5but not be limited to the following topics:
6 (1) Dynamics of domestic violence.
7 (2) Neurobiology of trauma and its implications for victim and witness
8communication.
9 (3) Strangulation.
10 (4) Orders of Protection.
11 (5) Domestic Abuse Intervention Programming standards and legal requirements.
12 (6) Available support services for victims.
13 (7) Applicable state and federal domestic violence laws.
14 Beginning January 1, 2023, each district attorney and assistant district attorney shall
15complete a minimum of four hours of training on domestic violence, which shall include but
16not be limited to the following topics:
17 (1) Dynamics of domestic violence.
18 (2) Neurobiology of trauma and its implications for victim communication.
19 (3) Strangulation.
20 (4) Evidence-based prosecution.
21 (5) State and federal domestic violence related firearm prohibitions.
22 (6) Victim rights.
23 (7) Applicable state and federal domestic violence laws.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
25Supreme Court of Louisiana.
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HCR NO. 70
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)]
HCR 70 Original 2022 Regular Session Freeman
Requests the La. Supreme Court to adopt minimum continuing legal education requirement
of judges, district attorneys, and assistant district attorneys on the topic of domestic violence.
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