HLS 25RS-413 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 451
BY REPRESENTATIVE BACALA
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CHILDREN/ABUSE: Provides relative to mandatory reporters of child abuse
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact Children's Code Articles 603(17)(e) and 610(A)(3) and (4) and to
3 enact Children's Code Article 610(A)(5), relative to mandatory reporting of child
4 abuse or neglect; to provide for police officers or law enforcement officials who
5 work as school resource officers; to establish the information that school resource
6 officers are allowed to receive; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Children's Code Articles 603(17)(e) and 610(A)(3) and (4) are hereby
9amended and reenacted and Children's Code Article 610(A)(5) is hereby enacted to read as
10follows:
11 Art. 603. Definitions
12 As used in this Title:
13 * * *
14 (17) "Mandatory reporter" is any of the following individuals:
15 * * *
16 (e) Police officers or law enforcement officials. Any police officer or law
17 enforcement official who works as a school resource officer shall be considered a
18 mandatory reporter. A school resource officer shall not receive information from
19 another mandatory reporter or commence or oversee any investigation into the
20 report.
21 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-413 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 451
1 Art. 610. Reporting procedure; reports to the legislature and the United States
2 Department of Defense Family Advocacy Program
3 A.
4 * * *
5 (3) A school resource officer cannot receive a mandatory report if the report
6 involves a school employee suspected of illegal activity.
7 (3) (4) If a mandatory reporter is prohibited from immediately making the
8 report required by this Chapter to the department or local or state law enforcement
9 because of an employer's policies or employee manual, the mandatory reporter shall
10 file a complaint with local or state law enforcement. Local or state law enforcement
11 shall investigate the complaint, and an employer violating this Chapter shall be
12 subject to the penalties provided for in R.S. 14:131.1 and 403. An employer shall
13 not discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a mandatory reporter for
14 complying with this Article. If an employer is found discriminating or retaliating
15 against an employee for complying with this Article, the employer shall be subject
16 to double the fines provided for in R.S. 14:131.1 and 403.
17 (4) (5) In an investigation of a report of abuse or neglect allegedly committed
18 by a parent or caretaker, the department shall determine whether the person is an
19 active duty member of the United States Armed Forces or the spouse of a member
20 on active duty. If the department determines that the person is an active duty
21 member of the United States Armed Forces or the spouse of a member on active
22 duty, the department shall notify the United States Department of Defense Family
23 Advocacy Program at the closest active duty military installation of the investigation.
24 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-413 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 451
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 451 Original 2025 Regular Session Bacala
Abstract: Prohibits school resource officers from receiving certain information from a
mandatory report.
Present law provides a list of defined mandatory reporters of child abuse. That list includes
police officers and law enforcement officials. Any police officer or law enforcement official
who works as a school resource officer is considered a mandatory reporter.
Present law also provides that a school resource officer cannot receive information from
another mandatory reporter or commence or oversee any investigation into a report.
Proposed law repeals the prohibition to receive information from another mandatory
reporter.
Present law provides for the instances when a mandatory reporter is required to report child
abuse or neglect or that child abuse or neglect was a contributing factor in a child's death.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that a school resource officer cannot receive
a mandatory report if the report involves a school employee who is suspected of illegal
activity.
(Amends Ch.C. Arts. 603(17)(e) and 610(A)(3) and (4); Adds Ch.C. Art. 610(A)(5))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.