LouisianaLouisiana checks child services workers against criminal and abuse records
The Department of Children and Family Services checks criminal histories and state abuse and neglect records for all employees and job applicants.
What it does
The Department of Children and Family Services must check criminal histories and the state registry for substantiated abuse or neglect reports for all employees and job applicants.
The department may not hire people for certain jobs involving children until two required conditions are met.
The department must terminate covered employees whose names are recorded on the state abuse and neglect registry after January 1, 2010. Permanent classified employees can use their administrative appeal rights first.
Argument forChecking every employee and applicant could help the department find criminal histories or substantiated abuse and neglect reports when reviewing its workforce.
Argument againstA covered worker whose name is added to the registry after January 1, 2010, could lose their job, though permanent classified workers can use their appeal rights first.
More detail
The department must check criminal histories and the state registry for substantiated abuse or neglect reports. This covers all Department of Children and Family Services employees and job applicants. The checks must follow R.S. 46:51.2.
The department may not hire certain people until two conditions are met. This covers jobs investigating child abuse or neglect, supervising or disciplining children, caring for children directly, or conducting licensing surveys.
The department must terminate certain employees whose names are recorded on the state registry. This covers employees who investigate child abuse or neglect, supervise or discipline children, care for children directly, or conduct licensing surveys. Permanent classified employees may not be terminated until they have used their administrative appeal rights. This applies to names recorded on the registry after January 1, 2010.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 9Signed by the Governor Jeff Landry. Becomes Act No. 803.Became Law
- Jun 9Effective date: 08/01/2026.
- May 28Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- May 27Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- May 27Signed by the President of the Senate.
- May 26Read by title, roll called, yeas 99, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
- Vote recorded CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1467). Result: pass.Lower
- May 25Scheduled for concurrence on 05/26/2026.
- May 19Received from the Senate with amendments.Minor
- May 18Rules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#940). Result: pass.Upper
- May 11Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 7Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 6Reported with amendments.Minor
- Apr 14Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- Apr 13Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- Apr 9Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 1. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#404). Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8Scheduled for floor debate on 04/09/2026.
- Apr 7Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- Apr 1Reported favorably (9-0).Minor
- Mar 9Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- Feb 27First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
- Feb 25Prefiled.Minor
- Feb 25Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Introduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety