ENROLLED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 193
BY REPRESENTATIVE MANDIE LANDRY
A RESOLUTION
To create and provide for a subcommittee of the House Committee on Administration of
Criminal Justice to examine matters relative to the procedures of reporting missing
persons and unidentified and unclaimed remains.
WHEREAS, finding answers and achieving a sense of closure is crucial for families
of missing loved ones; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 13:5714 provides that a coroner or his designee shall make every
reasonable effort to notify the next of kin in all cases of deaths for which he has jurisdiction,
including but not limited to deaths enumerated in R.S. 13:5713(A); and
WHEREAS, R.S. 15:658 provides that any law enforcement agency or criminal
justice agency located within the state shall submit all unidentified human remains found
within the state to the LSU Forensic Anthropology Computer Enhancement Services
(F.A.C.E.S.) Laboratory after reasonable efforts to identify the person have failed; and
WHEREAS, F.A.C.E.S. is required to upload any DNA profile developed from any
DNA sample from the unidentified human remains into the state and national Combined
DNA Index System (CODIS) database in accordance with all applicable FBI procedures for
uploads of missing persons data; and
WHEREAS, underfunding and understaffing may hinder agencies from fulfilling
their obligation to provide timely reporting as required by law; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana has an interest in assisting family members of missing
persons in finding and identifying their missing loved ones.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby create a subcommittee of the House Committee on
Administration of Criminal Justice to examine matters relative to the procedures of reporting
missing persons and unidentified and unclaimed remains.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman of the House Committee on
Administration of Criminal Justice shall appoint the members of the subcommittee and
designate the chairman and vice-chairman of the subcommittee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall have the power and
authority of a standing committee to hold hearings, require the production of books and
records, and do all other things necessary to discharge its duties and responsibilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall be responsible for
examining all matters relating to the reporting procedures of missing persons and
unidentified and unclaimed remains and any related issues that the subcommittee deems
appropriate and necessary to discharge its duties and responsibilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall study the procedures and
time delays for law enforcement agencies reporting missing persons or unidentified remains
to F.A.C.E.S as required by law.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall study the procedures and
time delays for coroners notifying next of kin and the procedures relating to identified but
unclaimed remains.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall study the funding of
F.A.C.E.S, law enforcement agencies, and coroners as it relates to their required reporting.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall study and recommend
the appropriate time delays of coroners notifying and reporting of unidentified remains or
unclaimed remains.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall study and recommend
the appropriate time delays for reporting between law enforcement agencies to F.A.C.E.S.
and F.A.C.E.S. to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall conduct such
investigations it finds necessary or appropriate to carry out its purposes; for the purposes of
conducting such studies, the subcommittee may call upon the staff of any department,
agency, or official of the state for data and assistance including but not limited to F.A.C.E.S.,
the Louisiana Department of Health, coroners, sheriffs, district attorneys, police officers, and
the Fraternal Order of Police; all such departments, agencies, and officials shall cooperate
with the subcommittee; and the subcommittee may request and utilize the assistance of any
and all public and private sources.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall make a report of its
findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the House Committee on
Administration of Criminal Justice no later than January 31, 2025.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall be dissolved on January
31, 2025.
BE IF FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall submit one print copy
and one electronic copy of any report produced pursuant to this Resolution to the David R.
Poynter Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:772.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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