HASBSB312 SCOTTA 4158
SENATE SUMMARY OF HOUSE AMENDMENTS
SB 312 2024 Regular Session Edmonds
KEYWORD AND SUMMARY AS RETURNED TO THE SENATE
CHILDREN. Provides for the Adoption Awareness Act. (1/1/25)
SUMMARY OF HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE BILL
1. Creates an adoption awareness program within the Dept. of Children and
Family Services.
2. Directs the Dept. of Children and Family Services to contract with eligible
vendors who will be responsible for providing supportive services.
3. Requires a contract vendor to provide information about the adoption
process.
4. Establishes eligibility requirements for contracted vendors.
5. Directs the Dept. of Children and Family services to seek funding for the
program through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
block grant.
6. Protect contracted vendors' freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and
freedom of assembly as provided for the U.S. Constitution and La.
Constitution.
7. Provides that proposed law shall not be implemented unless monies
sufficient to fund the provisions of proposed law are obtained from the
TANF block grant.
8. Changes effective date from August 1, 2024 to January 1, 2025.
DIGEST OF THE SENATE BILL AS RETURNED TO THE SENATE
DIGEST
SB 312 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Edmonds
Proposed law creates within the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) the
Adoption Awareness program and states that the purpose of the program is to encourage
two-parent families, provide awareness of current adoption options, and ensure access to
correct information on adoption.
Proposed law defines "agency adoption", "birth parent", "expectant parent",
"department", and "home study".
Proposed law directs DCFS to contract with an eligible vendor who will be responsible
for providing supportive services.
Proposed law requires a contracted vendor to provide the following services:
(1)Marketing of adoption information and resources.
(2)Provide for a telephone hotline providing information about the adoption process
including information on adoption process for expectant parents, a biological
parents' rights and legal protections, and a list of adoption agencies in this state.
(3)Education and training about adoption for healthcare professionals serving
pregnant women. HASBSB312 SCOTTA 4158
Proposed law allows a contracted vendor to subcontract with another entity to provide
services.
Proposed law provides that a nonprofit corporation or other entity is eligible to contract
with DCFS to provide services if the vendor and any subcontractor meets all of the
following requirements:
(1)Is in good standing with the secretary of state and registered to do business in this
state.
(2)Is capable of providing services.
(3)Is not an abortion provider or an entity that promotes, refers for, or assists women
in obtaining an abortion.
Proposed law provides the eligibility requirements for participation in the Adoption
Awareness Program. A participant must be any of the following:
(1)A Louisiana resident who is the biological parent of an unborn child.
(2)A parent of a child under two years of age.
(3)A parent of a child in the custody of DCFS.
(4)A parent of a minor who is the biological parent of an unborn child.
Proposed law requires the contracted vendor to submit a monthly report on the status and
operation of the Adoption Awareness Program and provides requirements for the content
of such reports.
Proposed law requires that DCFS finance the Adoption Awareness Program with funds
obtained through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant.
Proposed law allows the contracted vendor to use the available funds to provide required
services, market the program with the state, and cover administrative and other
associated costs if the administrative costs does not exceed 15%.
Proposed law provides protection of religious freedom, freedom of speech, and freedom
of assembly protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the La.
Constitution to contracted vendors, subcontractors, and employees of contracted vendors
or subcontractors.
Proposed law requires that nothing in proposed law is intended to alter the requirements
for adoption in present law.
Proposed law requires the La. Dept. of Health and DCFS to include a link to the
AdoptionOption.La.Gov website, or any successor state agency website that promotes
adoption awareness and makes adoption resource information available to the public, in a
prominent location on the departments' websites.
Proposed law provides that the provisions of proposed law shall not be implemented
unless monies sufficient to fund proposed law are obtained from the TANF block grant.
Effective Jan. 1, 2025.
(Adds R.S. 46:1445.1-1445.14)
______________________
Amanda Trapp
Researcher