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 617 Original 2025 Regular Session Carver
Abstract: Reorganizes the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
Present law provides that within DCFS each organizational unit which reports to the secretary, which
is not an agency and not within the division of management and finance, the division of child
welfare, or the division of family support, shall be in the executive division and shall be designated
as bureau, section, or unit.
Proposed law repeals present law
Present law provides that DCFS shall be composed of the executive office of children and family
services, and such other offices as shall be created by law.
Proposed law modifies present law providing that DCFS shall be composed of the executive office
of the secretary, office of management and finance, office of child welfare, office of child support,
and other offices as shall be created by law.
Proposed law provides that there shall be an assistant secretary of child welfare and an assistant
secretary of child support and that each assistant secretary shall employ staff as necessary for the
efficient administration of its office and programs.
Present law provides that the office of children and family services shall administer services related
to public assistance programs including food stamps, child support, and disability determinations and
administer public child welfare programs including programs to prevent child abuse, establish child
protective services, and facilitate adoption.
Proposed law repeals present law providing that DCFS shall be organized into the following offices:
(1)The executive office of the secretary which shall provide for the general oversight and
supervision of DCFS.
(2)The office of child welfare which shall provide for child protective services, human
trafficking programs, foster children and adoption placement services, and prevention of
child abuse and neglect.
(3)The office of child support which shall provide for the administration of child support
programs. Proposed law makes corresponding technical corrections in relevant statutory provisions in proposed
law.
Present law directs DCFS to prepare and submit a state plan for participation in the Child Care and
Development Block Grant Program until such authority is transferred to the state Department of
Education in accordance with present law (R.S. 17:407.28), and in the Title IV-A federal program
to assist families at risk of welfare dependency.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law directs DCFS to submit a proposal for reform of the food stamp program.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law tasks DCFS with administering and supervising all forms of public assistance.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law directs DCFS to construct and operate state-supported detention facilities.
Proposed law repeals present law.
(Amends Ch. C. Arts. 509(B)(1), 512(B)(1), 522(A)(2), 1269.3(F), 1270(B), (E), and (F), 1271(A),
1273, 1283.2(H), 1285.2(H), and 1519, C.E. Art. 902(10), R.S. 6:333(F)(14), R.S. 9:315.16(A),
315.40(1) and (3), 399.1(A) and (F)(3) and (4), and 406(B)(2) and (C)(2), R.S. 11:441.1(F), R.S.
13:998(B) and (E)(1) and (3), 1141(B) and (E)(1) and (3), 1414(B) and (E)(1) and (3), 4291(B)(1),
and 5108.2, R.S. 14:68.2.1(A), R.S. 15:587(A)(2)(a) and (b), 587.1(I), and 587.5(A)(4), R.S.
17:192.1(A)(1)(a) and (3), R.S. 23:1605(A)(4), R.S. 36:3(7), 8(E)(2)(d), 9(C), 471(B) and (C)(1),
472(A), 475.1(B) and (C), 476, and 477(A) and (B), R.S. 40:34.5(E), 46.12(D) and (F), and
1061.14(B)(3)(b)(i), R.S. 43:111(A)(8) R.S. 44:38, R.S. 46:51(intro. para.), 51.3, 114(A), (B),
(C)(1)(intro. para.) and (2), (D), and (E)(3), 233.1(C)(intro. para.) and (D)(intro. para.), 236.1.1(3),
236.1.4(E), 236.1.8(D), 236.3(A)(2), 236.10(A), 236.11(C), 236.12(B)(1), 236.14(D)(1)(intro. para.),
236.15(A)(1), 236.16, 238(B), (C), (D), (E)(intro. para.) and (7), and (F), 281, 443, 1002(A),
(B)(intro. para.), and (C), and 2136.2(F), R.S. 47:299.11(1), 299.41(B), 463.112(C), and
9027(C)(10)(intro. para.) and (c), and R.S. 51:1442(4), to enact R.S. 36:477(C) and (D), to repeal
R.S. 36:474(A)(11) and (G) and 477(B)(2) and R.S. 46:51(2) and (14) and 233.1(A) and (B))