Louisiana 2024 2024 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HCR103 Introduced / Bill

                    HLS 24RS-1506	ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 103
BY REPRESENTATIVE MOORE
HEALTH:  Requests the Department of Children and Family Services to study the
feasibility of implementing a 233 helpline as an additional resource for sexual abuse
victims in this state
1	A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Department of Children and Family Services to study the feasibility
3 of implementing a 233 helpline as an additional resource for sexual abuse victims in
4 this state.
5 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Health identifies unwanted exposure to
6sexually explicit material, language, or contact as sexual abuse; and 
7 WHEREAS, the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University conducted the Louisiana
8Study on Violence Experiences Across the Lifespan (LaVEX) during the summer of 2023
9and surveyed more than one thousand adults across the state on a comprehensive range of
10experiences of violence, which included instances of verbal abuse, cyberbullying, sexual
11assault, and gun violence; and
12 WHEREAS, according to the LaVEX study, forty-one percent of adults in Louisiana
13have experienced sexual violence or harassment in their lifetime, twenty-nine percent of
14adults in Louisiana have been verbally sexually harassed, and eleven percent of adults in
15Louisiana  have experienced sexual assault; and 
16 WHEREAS, the LaVEX study also found that women often experienced such abuse
17at the hands of a romantic or sexual partner; and 
18 WHEREAS, forty-two percent of women have experienced physical or sexual
19violence from a partner with only ten percent of these women reporting their partner; and
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HCR NO. 103
1 WHEREAS, organizations like the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault
2(LaFASA), the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), and Sexual Trauma
3Awareness & Response (STAR) exist to address sexual abuse concerns in this state and offer
4resources to survivors; and 
5 WHEREAS, such sexual abuse initiatives provide support services to survivors and
6statewide sexual assault crisis centers through education, professional training, technical
7assistance, and community engagement; and 
8 WHEREAS, the Department of Children and Family Services has implemented a
9hotline for child abuse and neglect, which includes reports of sexual trafficking; and 
10 WHEREAS, expansion of such services could be beneficial to Louisiana residents
11who are currently facing or have faced sexual abuse, reported or otherwise; and 
12 WHEREAS, the Department of Children and Family Services should research and
13consider the implementation of a 233 helpline as an additional resource for sexual abuse
14victims in this state.
15 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
16urge and request the Department of Children and Family Services to study the feasibility of
17implementing a 233 helpline as an additional resource for sexual abuse victims in this state
18and submit its findings in the form of a written report by February 1, 2025 to the House and
19Senate committees on health and welfare.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report shall include information about means
21of funding for creating a helpline and determining costs for a marketing campaign to boost
22awareness of the 233 helpline initiative. 
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
24secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services.
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 103 Original 2024 Regular Session	Moore
Requests the Dept. of Children and Family Services to study the feasibility of implementing
a 233 helpline as an additional resource for sexual abuse victims in this state.
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HCR NO. 103
Requests a written report of its findings to be submitted to the House and Senate committees
on health and welfare by Feb. 1, 2025.
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