This Louisiana Children's Code provision establishes mandatory and permitted reporting requirements for suspected child abuse or neglect. Mandatory reporters must report when they have cause to believe a child's physical or mental health or welfare is endangered, and are subject to criminal prosecution for failing to do so. The Department of Children and Family Services must make training available to mandatory reporters on identifying and reporting abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. This is a child welfare reporting law and does not license or set operating standards for any specific behavioral health, IDD, ABA, or foster care facility type.
View official sourceLogin Sign-Up Home Laws Bills Sessions House Senate Committees Legislators My Legis 2026 Regular Session Other Sessions 2026 Regular Session Other Sessions House Committees Senate Committees Miscellaneous Committees Scheduled Meetings Representatives Senators Caucuses and Delegations CHC 609 CHAPTER 5. CHILD ABUSE REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION Art. 609. Mandatory and permitted reporting; training requirements A. With respect to mandatory reporters: (1)(a) Notwithstanding any claim of privileged communication, any mandatory reporter who has cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare is endangered as a result of abuse or neglect or that abuse or neglect was a contributing factor in a child's death shall report in accordance with Article 610. (b) For purposes of this Article, the pregnancy of a child under the age of thirteen years shall constitute cause to consider whether the child has been abused. (2) Violation of the duties imposed upon a mandatory reporter subjects the offender to criminal prosecution authorized by R.S. 14:403(A)(1). (3)(a) Mandatory reporters shall be offered training on the statutory requirements and responsibility of reporting child abuse and neglect and how to identify the signs and symptoms of child neglect and abuse, including sexual abuse and human trafficking. The training shall be made available by the Department of Children and Family Services. The department may provide for an annual competency assessment which may be used for training purposes. (b) The appropriate state regulatory department, board, commission, or agency for each category of mandatory reporter shall provide continuing education credit for the completion of the training pursuant to this Paragraph. (c) Any entity, including but not limited to hospitals, educational and religious institutions, and nonprofits, may provide its employees, volunteers, or educational attendees with equivalent training pursuant to Subsubparagraph (a) of this Subparagraph. B. With respect to permitted reporters, any other person having cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare is endangered as a result of abuse or neglect, including a judge of any court of this state, may report in accordance with Article 610. C. The filing of a report, known to be false, may subject the offender to criminal prosecution authorized by R.S. 14:403(A)(3). Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 637, §1, eff. June 15, 1993; Acts 2013, No. 163, §1; Acts 2020, No. 122, §1, eff. June 9, 2020; Acts 2026, No. 960, §5, eff. Jan. 1, 2027. If you experience any technical difficulties navigating this website, contact the webmaster. P.O. Box 94062 (900 North Third Street) Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9062