HLS 24RS-495 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 231
BY REPRESENTATIVE MANDIE LANDRY
CHILDREN/CARE: Provides relative to procedures for reporting child abuse
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact Children's Code Article 610(A)(1), relative to children in need of care
3 and mandatory reporting; to require the reporting of abuse and neglect perpetrated
4 by teaching or child care providers and school coaches; to provide for the
5 applicability of reporting requirements to teaching or child care providers and school
6 coaches; to provide 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 610(A)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted to
9read 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
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-495 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 231
1 Family Services Mandated Reporter Portal online, or in person at any child welfare
2 office. Reports in which the abuse or neglect is believed to be perpetrated by
3 someone other than a caretaker, a person who maintains an interpersonal dating or
4 engagement relationship with the parent or caretaker, or a person living in the same
5 residence with the parent or caretaker as a spouse whether married or not, and the
6 caretaker is not believed to have any responsibility for the abuse or neglect shall be
7 made immediately to a local or state law enforcement agency. Abuse perpetrated by
8 a school employee, teacher, or coach shall be reported to a local or state law
9 enforcement agency. Dual reporting to both the department and the local or state law
10 enforcement agency is permitted. If a report involves alleged sex trafficking, all
11 mandatory reporters shall report to the department regardless of whether there is
12 alleged parental or caretaker culpability.
13 * * *
14 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
15signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
16by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
17vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
18effective 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 231 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Mandie Landry
Abstract: Clarifies that abuse perpetrated by a school employee shall be reported to a local
or state law enforcement agency.
Present law (Ch.C. Art. 610(A)(1)) provides the procedures for reporting abuse or neglect
of a child.
Proposed law retains present law and clarifies that abuse perpetrated by a school employee
must be reported to a local or state law enforcement agency.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends Ch.C. Art. 610(A)(1))
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-495 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 231
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Remove teaching and school staff and coaches from the definition of "caretaker".
2. Remove provision clarifying that mandatory reports shall not be exempt from
reporting child abuse because the person perpetrating the abuse is a school
employee.
2. Add that child abuse perpetrated by a school employee, teacher, or coach shall
be reported to a local or state law enforcement agency.
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.