Louisiana law limits sharing of child abuse case records

The law protects case information held by child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary investigative teams from public requests, subpoenas, discovery, and disclosure. The rules cover information connected to a child abuse or neglect case that a center or team creates, receives, or keeps. Information may be shared among team members for investigation, assessment, prosecution, and treatment; with a court under a protective order; or as otherwise provided by law. The protections apply only to agencies and people acting under formal multidisciplinary agreements. They do not limit independently obtained evidence, law enforcement authority, or a defendant’s constitutional rights. The protections do not apply to criminal proceedings or proceedings under Titles VI, VII, and VIII of the Louisiana Children’s Code. The law took effect when the governor signed it on June 8, 2026.

A court may allow lawyers to see a recorded forensic interview after reviewing it privately. This applies to forensic interviews in child custody, civil, and administrative proceedings. The court may order disclosure only after its private review, and must issue a written order. Disclosure to the lawyers is subject to a protective order. The law took effect when the governor signed it on June 8, 2026.

Child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary investigative teams must adopt and follow written confidentiality policies. The policies cover information obtained during child abuse and neglect investigations and information kept by child advocacy centers. Team policies must limit sharing to authorized participants for investigation, assessment, prosecution, and treatment. A center’s policy must follow state and federal law, and information may be disclosed only as needed for the center’s purposes. The law took effect when the governor signed it on June 8, 2026.