LouisianaLouisiana agencies and schools report and review suspected child abuse
Starting January 1, 2027, Louisiana agencies and schools follow procedures for reviewing certain child deaths and responding to suspected abuse, including allegations at school.
What it does
A state team reviews child deaths and near deaths that the department links to abuse or neglect, looks for ways to prevent harm, and may review cases it did not substantiate.
Schools report alleged abuse in school settings to families and law enforcement, no matter who is accused. Police must begin investigating within 48 hours.
The child ombudsman receives notice of certain child deaths and near deaths and may review relevant agency records, while protecting reporters’ identities and other confidential information.
Mandatory reporters use the hotline for urgent cases and may use the state portal or report in person for less urgent cases. The department may assess low-risk cases instead of investigating.
Argument forReviewing confirmed abuse-related child deaths could help agencies find safety problems and recommend steps that may prevent future harm.
Argument againstTelling families about allegations right away could expose children or accused people to harm before investigators have checked what happened.
More detail
A state review team reviews certain child deaths and near deaths and recommends steps to prevent harm. The team includes state agency representatives, a coroner or forensic pathologist, a child advocacy center representative, and the state child ombudsman. The team must review deaths and near deaths that the department finds resulted from abuse or neglect. The team chair may choose to review cases the department did not substantiate. The team may review relevant records, but its records are confidential and it must not receive the reporter’s name or identifying information. The team must meet at least four times a year. These provisions take effect January 1, 2027.
Schools report alleged child abuse to the child’s parent or guardian and to local or state law enforcement. A school setting includes school buildings, grounds, vehicles, and activities sponsored by public, private, or charter schools. Schools must report regardless of who is accused. If more than one child is involved, the school must notify the families of all involved children. If a child is accused of sexual abuse, the case must be referred to the Department of Children and Family Services for a family assessment. Police must begin investigating within 48 hours after receiving the report. These provisions take effect January 1, 2027.
The Department of Children and Family Services notifies the state child ombudsman about certain child fatalities and near fatalities, and the ombudsman may review relevant records. The access rules cover department records relevant to the ombudsman’s duties, including child welfare records, with stated legal restrictions. The department must send written notice within three business days after receiving a report about a child fatality or near fatality that is under investigation for alleged abuse or neglect. The ombudsman must protect confidential information and may not disclose a reporter’s identity. Remote system access is limited by federal law, and the ombudsman cannot change or distribute system records. The department must send the specified notice within three business days of receiving the report. These provisions take effect January 1, 2027.
Mandatory reporters use the state hotline for urgent suspected abuse and may report less urgent cases through the state portal or in person. These reporting and assessment rules concern reports about children who are not in state custody. For a low-risk report, the department may assess family needs and community resources instead of investigating. If it finds an immediate, substantial risk of harm, it must promptly investigate. These provisions take effect January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 23Becomes Act No. 960 without the Governor's signature.Latest
- Jun 23Effective date 6/23/2026.
- Jun 1By a vote of 89 yeas, 1 nays, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, the House approved consideration after the 82nd calendar day.
- Vote recorded MOTION TO CONSIDER (#1609). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1848). Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 1Notice House approved consideration after 6:00 p.m. on the 82nd calendar day.
- Jun 1Read by title. The Senate approved consideration after 6:00 p.m. on the 82nd calendar day by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays.
- Jun 1Notice Senate approved consideration after the 82nd calendar day.
- Jun 1Called from the calendar.
- Jun 1Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 2. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Jun 1Received from the House with amendments.Minor
- Jun 1Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays.
- Jun 1Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate on 6/2/2026.To Governor
- Jun 1Signed by the Speaker of the House.
- Jun 1Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate on 6/2/2026.Minor
- May 31
- Vote recorded MOTION TO CONSIDER AFTER 82ND DAY (#1810). Result: pass.Lower
- May 29Scheduled for floor debate on 05/29/2026.
- May 29Read by title, returned to the calendar.
- May 28Read by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- May 27Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
- May 26Reported with amendments (10-9). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.Minor
- May 25Reported with amendments (10-0). To be recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.Minor
- May 25Rules suspended.
- May 25Read by title, recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.
- May 12Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- May 11Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.
- May 7Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 32 yeas and 0 nays; ordered re-reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded CO-AUTHORS (#654). Result: fail.Upper
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#653). Result: pass.Upper
- May 6Read by title; Committee amendments read and adopted. Ordered reengrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.
- May 5Reported with amendments.Minor
- Apr 29Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
- Apr 28Reported with amendments.Minor
- Mar 9Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- Feb 26Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Introduced
Public SafetyCriminal Justice