This bill proposes a comprehensive restructuring of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in Louisiana, creating distinct offices for child support and child welfare while eliminating the existing office of children and family services. Key amendments include replacing references to "children and family services" with "child welfare" and "child support" throughout various articles of the Children's Code and other statutes. The bill aims to streamline operations, clarify the roles of different offices, and modernize the legal framework governing child welfare and support services, ensuring that laws are current and effective.

Additionally, the bill outlines new responsibilities for the redefined offices, emphasizing child safety, family empowerment, and community strength. It mandates the department to conduct background checks for foster and adoptive parent applicants and clarifies the department's authority regarding child support payments and confidentiality for children in state custody. The legislation also includes provisions for the annulment of notarial acts and the distribution of funds collected by district courts, with a focus on enhancing the efficiency of child support enforcement and service delivery. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2027, for most sections, with one section becoming effective earlier on October 1, 2025.

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)