ENROLLED ACT No. 226 2023 Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO. 184 BY REPRESENTATIVES FRIEMAN, AMEDEE, BOYD, WILFORD CARTER, ECHOLS, EMERSON, GAROFALO, HODGES, JEFFERSON, MIKE JOHNSON, AND KNOX 1 AN ACT 2 To amend and reenact Children's Code Article 622(A) and to enact Children's Code Article 3 650, relative to the placement of a child removed from the care of a parent; to 4 provide for the intervention of an interested party to facilitate the placement of the 5 child; to permit a party to motion the court for a contradictory hearing to determine 6 the placement of a child; and to provide for related matters. 7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 8 Section 1. Children's Code Article 622(A) is hereby amended and reenacted and 9 Children's Code Article 650 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 10 Art. 622. Placement pending a continued custody hearing 11 A. Prior to the continued custody hearing required in Article 624, a suitable 12 relative or other suitable individual may intervene or seek and obtain an ex parte 13 court order to take provisional custody of the child pending the continued custody 14 hearing. The provisions of Code of Civil Procedure Article 3945 are inapplicable to 15 an ex parte order rendered pursuant to this Paragraph. 16 * * * 17 Art. 650. Intervention 18 A. For good cause shown, the court may allow any family member or 19 interested person to intervene to facilitate the placement of the child and to ensure 20 that the best interests of the child are protected. 21 B. The court may limit the nature and extent of intervenor's participation in 22 the adjudication hearing. Page 1 of 2 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 184 ENROLLED 1 C. For the purposes of this Section, "interested person" means any person 2 with whom the child enjoys a close, established, significant relationship, yet not a 3 blood relative, including a neighbor, godparent, teacher, or close friend of the parent. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED: Page 2 of 2 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.