2022 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 63
BY SENATORS MIZELL, ABRAHAM, BARROW, BERNARD, CARTER, CATHEY,
CLOUD, CONNICK, CORTEZ, FESI, FOIL, HARRIS, HENRY,
HENSGENS, HEWITT, JACKSON, LAMBERT, LUNEAU, MCMATH,
MILLIGAN, FRED MILLS, ROBERT MILLS, MORRIS, PEACOCK,
POPE, SMITH, WARD AND WHITE AND REPRESENTATIVES
ADAMS, AMEDEE, BACALA, BAGLEY, BUTLER, CREWS,
ECHOLS, EDMONDS, EDMONSTON, EMERSON, FREEMAN,
FREIBERG, GAROFALO, HORTON, HUGHES, ILLG, JEFFERSON,
MARCELLE, MCMAHEN, DUSTIN MILLER, MOORE, CHARLES
OWEN, PRESSLY, SCHLEGEL, STAGNI, THOMPSON AND WHITE
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact Children's Code Art. 610(A)(1) and to enact Children's Code Art.
3 610(E)(4) and R.S. 46:51(16), relative to mandatory reporting of child abuse; to
4 provide for reporting of child sex trafficking; to provide for the duties of the
5 department including the provision of care coordination and advocacy services; to
6 provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Children's Code Art. 610(A)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted and
9 Children's Code Art. 610(E)(4) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 Art. 610. Reporting procedure; reports to the legislature and the United States
11 Department of Defense Family Advocacy Program
12 A.(1) Reports of child abuse or neglect or that such was a contributing factor
13 in a child's death, where the abuser is believed to be a parent or caretaker, a person
14 who maintains an interpersonal dating or engagement relationship with the parent or
15 caretaker, or a person living in the same residence with the parent or caretaker as a
16 spouse whether married or not, shall be made immediately to the department. A
17 permitted reporter shall make a report through the designated state child protection
18 reporting hotline telephone number or in person at any child welfare office. A
19 mandatory reporter shall make a report through the designated state child protection
20 reporting hotline telephone number, via the Louisiana Department of Children and
21 Family Services Mandated Reporter Portal online, or in person at any child welfare
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1 office. Reports in which the abuse or neglect is believed to be perpetrated by
2 someone other than a caretaker, a person who maintains an interpersonal dating or
3 engagement relationship with the parent or caretaker, or a person living in the same
4 residence with the parent or caretaker as a spouse whether married or not, and the
5 caretaker is not believed to have any responsibility for the abuse or neglect shall be
6 made immediately to a local or state law enforcement agency. Dual reporting to both
7 the department and the local or state law enforcement agency is permitted. If a
8 report involves alleged sex trafficking, all mandatory reporters shall report to
9 the department regardless of whether there is alleged parental or caretaker
10 culpability.
11 * * *
12 E. * * *
13 (4) The department shall communicate as soon as possible all reports
14 involving alleged child victims of sex trafficking to the Louisiana State Police for
15 referral to the appropriate local law enforcement agency for investigation or
16 other action as appropriate.
17 * * *
18 Section 2. R.S. 46:51(16) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
19 §51. Duties of the department
20 The Department of Children and Family Services, through its secretary, shall
21 administer the public assistance and welfare laws of the state, as follows:
22 * * *
23 (16) Make care coordination and advocacy services available for child
24 victims of child sex trafficking as follows:
25 (a) Care coordination services may include emergency and ongoing
26 multidisciplinary coordination and service planning with key agencies to
27 address medical, psychological, safety, housing, and other emergency and long-
28 term needs of the child and the investigative needs of law enforcement.
29 (b) Based on the needs of the child and the child's family, advocacy
30 services may include:
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1 (i) Face-to-face visits to include emotional support.
2 (ii) Development, implementation, and updates to safety plans.
3 (iii) Communication and advocacy on the child's behalf with care
4 coordinators.
5 (iv) Assistance with referrals and implementation of services.
6 (v) Twenty-four hour on-call crisis assistance to respond to the needs of
7 the child.
8 (vi) Assistance with transportation and other physical needs.
9 (vii) Support work with the family to develop safety procedures based on
10 the particular situation and the child's needs.
11 (viii) Education on how to monitor and address the child's internet
12 access, messaging, and telephone contacts.
13 Section 3. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2023; if vetoed by the
14 governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on
15 the day following such approval by the legislature or January 1, 2023, whichever is later.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.