This bill proposes significant amendments to the Louisiana Children's Code and related statutes, primarily focusing on the reorganization of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). It establishes an office of child support and an office of child welfare, while eliminating the existing office of children and family services. Key changes include replacing references to the "office of children and family services" with "office of child welfare" throughout the code, and removing outdated provisions to better reflect the new organizational structure. The bill also outlines specific procedural aspects related to child welfare and support, emphasizing the best interests of children in custody and adoption matters, and streamlining processes for establishing and enforcing child support obligations.

Additionally, the bill modifies the terminology used within the department, changing "division" to "office" in several instances, and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the undersecretary and assistant secretaries. It allows for court referrals to the Louisiana Department of Health's office of behavioral health for evaluations prior to ex parte hearings and enhances the department's ability to access and share information related to child support and foster care cases. The bill also includes provisions for the recruitment of foster and adoptive parents and mandates that funds from special license plates be dedicated to these efforts. Overall, the legislation aims to modernize and improve the efficiency of child welfare and support services in Louisiana.

Statutes affected:
HB617 Original: 6:333(F)(14), 9:16(A), 9:40(1), 9:1(A), 9:406(B)(2), 11:1(F), 13:998(B), 13:1141(B), 13:1414(B), 13:4291(B)(1), 14:1(A), 15:587(A)(2), 15:1(I), 15:5(A)(4), 17:1(A)(1), 23:1605(A)(4), 43:111(A)(8), 46:51, 46:1(3), 46:114(A), 46:1(C), 46:4(E), 46:8(D), 46:3(A)(2), 46:10(A), 46:11(C), 46:12(B)(1), 46:14(D)(1), 46:15(A)(1), 46:238(B), 46:1002(A), 46:2(F), 47:11(1), 47:41(B), 47:112(C), 47:9027(C)(10), 51:1442(4), 36:474(A)(11), 36:477(B)(2), 46:51(2), 46:1(A)
HB617 Engrossed: 6:333(F)(14), 9:16(A), 9:40(1), 9:1(A), 9:406(B)(2), 11:1(F), 13:998(B), 13:1141(B), 13:1414(B), 13:4291(B)(1), 15:587(A)(2), 15:1(I), 15:5(A)(4), 17:1(A)(1), 23:1605(A)(4), 40:5(E), 40:12(D), 40:14(B)(3), 43:111(A)(8), 46:51, 46:1(3), 46:114(A), 46:1(C), 46:4(E), 46:8(D), 46:3(A)(2), 46:10(A), 46:11(C), 46:12(B)(1), 46:14(D)(1), 46:15(A)(1), 46:238(B), 46:1002(A), 46:2(F), 47:11(1), 47:41(B), 47:112(C), 47:9027(C)(10), 51:1442(4), 36:474(A)(11), 36:477(B)(2), 46:51(2), 46:1(A)
HB617 Reengrossed: 6:333(F)(14), 9:16(A), 9:40(1), 9:1(A), 9:406(B)(2), 11:1(F), 13:998(B), 13:1141(B), 13:1414(B), 13:4291(B)(1), 15:587(A)(2), 15:1(I), 15:5(A)(4), 17:1(A)(1), 23:1605(A)(4), 36:3(7), 36:8(E)(2), 36:9(C), 36:471(B), 36:472(A), 36:1(B), 40:5(E), 40:12(D), 40:14(B)(3), 43:111(A)(8), 46:51, 46:1(3), 46:114(A), 46:1(C), 46:4(E), 46:8(D), 46:3(A)(2), 46:10(A), 46:11(C), 46:12(B)(1), 46:14(D)(1), 46:15(A)(1), 46:238(B), 46:1002(A), 46:2(F), 47:11(1), 47:41(B), 47:112(C), 47:9027(C)(10), 51:1442(4), 36:474(A)(11), 36:477(B)(2), 46:51(2), 46:1(A)
HB617 Enrolled: 6:333(F)(14), 9:16(A), 9:40(1), 9:1(A), 9:406(B)(2), 11:1(F), 13:998(B), 13:1141(B), 13:1414(B), 13:4291(B)(1), 15:587(A)(2), 15:1(I), 15:5(A)(4), 17:1(A)(1), 23:1605(A)(4), 36:477(B)(1), 36:3(7), 36:8(E)(2), 36:9(C), 36:471(B), 36:472(A), 36:1(B), 40:5(E), 40:12(D), 40:14(B)(3), 43:111(A)(8), 47:11(1), 47:41(B), 47:112(C), 47:9027(C)(10), 51:1442(4), 36:474(A)(11), 36:477(B)(2), 46:51(2), 46:1(A)
HB617 Act 477: 6:333(F)(14), 9:16(A), 9:40(1), 9:1(A), 9:406(B)(2), 11:1(F), 13:998(B), 13:1141(B), 13:1414(B), 13:4291(B)(1), 15:587(A)(2), 15:1(I), 15:5(A)(4), 17:1(A)(1), 23:1605(A)(4), 36:477(B)(1), 36:3(7), 36:8(E)(2), 36:9(C), 36:471(B), 36:472(A), 36:1(B), 40:5(E), 40:12(D), 40:14(B)(3), 43:111(A)(8), 47:11(1), 47:41(B), 47:112(C), 47:9027(C)(10), 51:1442(4), 36:474(A)(11), 36:477(B)(2), 46:51(2), 46:1(A)