HLS 24RS-234 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 469
BY REPRESENTATIVE MOORE
HEALTH: Establishes 233 as a statewide sexual abuse helpline
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1216.1(H)(introductory paragraph) and to enact R.S.
3 40:1216.1(E)(2)(f) and (3)(k) and (H)(6) and 1216.2, relative to the creation of a
4 sexual abuse helpline; to provide for a statewide three-digit emergency telephone
5 helpline system; to provide for sexual abuse or sexually oriented offense reporting
6 and tracking; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 40:1216.1(H)(introductory paragraph) is amended and reenacted and
9R.S. 40:1216.1(E)(2)(f) and (3)(k) and (H)(6) and 1216.2 are hereby enacted to read as
10follows:
11 §1216.1. Procedures for victims of a sexually oriented criminal offense; immunity;
12 regional plans; maximum allowable costs; definitions; documents requested
13 by victim
14 * * *
15 E.
16 * * *
17 (2) When developing the annual response plan, each district shall incorporate
18 a sexual assault response team protocol to the extent possible; however, at a
19 minimum, each district shall develop the annual plan to do all of the following:
20 * * *
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HB NO. 469
1 (f) Boost awareness and promote utilization of the statewide sexual abuse
2 helpline as defined in R.S. 40:1216.2.
3 (3) When developing the annual response plan, the department shall solicit
4 the input of interested stakeholders in the region including but not limited to all of
5 the following:
6 * * *
7 (k) The sexual abuse helpline staff as defined in R.S. 40:1216.2.
8 * * *
9 H. For purposes of this Section, the following definitions apply:
10 * * *
11 (6) "Sexual abuse helpline" has the same meaning as defined in R.S.
12 40:1216.2.
13 §1216.2. Sexual abuse helpline
14 A. The legislature hereby declares that promoting accessibility to healthcare
15 services for sexual abuse victims is vital to the protection of public health and the
16 improvement of sexual abuse victims within this state.
17 B. For purposes of this Section, the following definitions apply:
18 (1) "233" or "sexual abuse helpline" means a telephone system for reporting
19 claims of sexual abuse that provides the caller with a system service that directs such
20 calls to specific answering points by selective routing based on the geographical
21 location from which the call originated. The helpline shall allow the caller to speak
22 with the appropriate healthcare professionals who are facilitated by the Department
23 of Children and Family Services as "sexual abuse helpline staff" as defined in this
24 Section. The designated 233 code shall be exclusively utilized in this state to report
25 sexual abuse or sexual offenses in accordance with the provisions of this Section.
26 (2) "Sexual abuse helpline staff" means any healthcare professional who is
27 licensed to provide behavioral health or counseling services to persons who are
28 victims of sexual abuse in accordance with state law and hired by the Department of
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HB NO. 469
1 Children and Family Services to respond to calls received by the sexual abuse
2 helpline.
3 C. The Department of Children and Family Services shall develop and
4 designate 233 as the three-digit telephone code exclusively for reporting sexual
5 abuse in this state.
6 D. The Department of Children and Family Services shall ensure the efficacy
7 and implementation of the sexual abuse helpline, which includes but is not limited
8 to all of the following:
9 (1) Maintaining a log of reported sexual abuse claims made by persons who
10 call the sexual abuse helpline.
11 (2)(a) Employing mental health and counseling professionals who can
12 respond to calls and provide contact information and referrals for sexual abuse
13 treatment.
14 (b) Staffing of employees for the helpline and compensation for the
15 employees shall be determined by the Department of Children and Family Services.
16 (3) Marketing and advertising the sexual abuse helpline, which includes but
17 is not limited to all of the following mediums:
18 (a) Digital marketing.
19 (b) Print media.
20 (c) Social media marketing.
21 (4) Reporting claims of sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement
22 personnel.
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 469 Original 2024 Regular Session Moore
Abstract: Establishes 233 as a statewide sexual abuse helpline.
Present law provides procedures for victims of sexual abuse or a sexually oriented criminal
offense. Proposed law adds boosting awareness and proper utilization of the sexual abuse
helpline established in proposed law to the existing requirements in present law.
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HB NO. 469
Proposed law provides definitions for "233", "sexual abuse helpline", and "sexual abuse
helpline staff".
Proposed law declares that promoting accessibility to healthcare services for sexual abuse
victims is vital to the protection of public health and the improvement of sexual abuse
victims within the state.
Proposed law requires the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to develop and
designate 233 as the 3-digit telephone code exclusively for reporting sexual abuse in the
state.
Proposed law further requires DCFS to be responsible for the efficacy and implementation
of the sexual abuse helpline, which includes but is not limited to the following:
(1)Maintaining a log of reported sexual abuse claims made by persons who call the
sexual abuse helpline.
(2)Employing counseling professionals who can respond to calls and provide contact
information and referrals for sexual abuse treatment.
(3)Marketing and advertising of the sexual abuse helpline.
(4)Reporting claims of sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement personnel.
(Amends R.S. 40:1216.1(H)(intro. para.); Adds R.S. 40:1216.1(E)(2)(f) and (3)(k) and
(H)(6) and 1216.2)
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