RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 362 (SB 496) 2024 Regular Session Edmonds
Existing law (R.S. 46:1425) provides that it shall be prohibited for an adoption facilitator,
as is defined in R.S. 46:1425.1, to advertise for adoption services.
Existing law provides that if any person advertises in violation of existing law, the attorney
general, DCFS, the appropriate district attorney, or any licensed child-placing agency or a
La. based crisis pregnancy or resource center may file suit in district court according to the
general rules of venue to obtain injunctive relief to restrain the person from continuing the
violation.
Existing law provides that nothing in existing law shall apply to any individual licensed to
practice law in this state while such individual is engaged in the practice of law or to any
individual licensed to provide mental health counseling as provided in existing law and
preplacement and home studies as provided in existing law.
Existing law provides that anyone who violates the provisions of existing law shall be liable
for all costs of any proceeding brought to enjoin such violation, including reasonable
attorney fees, which shall be set by the court.
New law retains existing law and provides that it shall be unlawful for an adoption facilitator
or an entity not licensed in La. to assist in the adoption of children.
New law provides that an individual or entity licensed in La. to participate in the adoption
process or assist in the adoption of children shall be considered a mandatory reporter for
purposes of new law.
New law (R.S. 46:1425.1) provides that an adoption facilitator shall not engage in any of the
following activities:
(1) Advertising for the purpose of soliciting parties to an adoption, locating children for
an adoption, or acting as an intermediary between the parties to an adoption.
(2) Charging a fee or other valuable consideration for service rendered relating to an
adoption, whether directly or indirectly, for locating children for adoption, or acting
as an intermediary between the parties to an adoption.
New law provides that as used in new law, "adoption facilitator" means an individual or
juridical person that acts as intermediary or facilitator between adoptive parents and birth
mothers.
New law provides that an "adoption facilitator" shall not include any of the following:
(1) A licensed adoption agency.
(2) An attorney licensed to practice law in La.
(3) Any individual licensed to provide mental health counseling and preplacement and
home studies as provided in existing law.
(4) A La.-based crisis pregnancy center or La.-based pregnancy resource center.
(5) An individual who does not receive a fee or other valuable consideration for services
rendered relating to an adoption, whether directly or indirectly, for locating children
for adoption, or acting as an intermediary between the parties to an adoption.
New law provides that a violation of new law shall be an unfair trade practice as provided
in new law.
New law (R.S. 51:1402(10)(c)) provides that "trade" or "commerce" shall include the
advertising or collecting fees as an adoption facilitator in violation of new law.
Effective August 1, 2024.
(Amends R.S. 46:1425; adds R.S. 46:1425(E), R.S. 46:1425.1, and R.S. 51:1402(10)(c))


Statutes affected:
SB496 Original:
SB496 Engrossed:
SB496 Reengrossed:
SB496 Enrolled:
SB496 Act 362: