House Bill No. 223, introduced by Representative Miller, aims to re-create the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and its associated statutory entities, extending their operational authority until July 1, 2031. The bill establishes that the DCFS will be re-created effective June 30, 2026, and outlines a new termination timeline, with operations beginning to phase out on July 1, 2030, unless the department is re-created again before that date. This re-creation is in accordance with the sunset law, which requires legislative action to continue the existence of such entities.

In addition to re-creating the DCFS, the bill repeals the previous provision under R.S. 49:191(1)(h), which set earlier termination dates for the department. The new legal language added to R.S. 49:191(3)(b) specifies that the DCFS and its statutory entities will be included in the new termination schedule. The bill is set to take effect on June 30, 2026, contingent upon approval by the legislature if vetoed by the governor.

Statutes affected:
HB223 Original: 49:191(1)
HB223 Engrossed: 49:191(1)