CHILDREN: Provides with respect to children in need of care

HLS 26RS-1481 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1224
BY REPRESENTATIVE MCMAKIN
CHILDREN: Provides with respect to children in need of care
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact Children's Code Article 606(A)(6) and 610(A)(3) and to enact
3 Children's Code Article 603.2, relative to children in need of care; to provide for
4 definitions; to provide for reporting abuse of children; to provide for pregnant
5 children under fourteen years of age; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. Children's Code Article 606(A)(6) and 610(A)(3) are hereby amended and
8 reenacted and Children's Code Article 603.2 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 Art. 603.2. Pregnancy of a child; service eligibility
10 A. Upon receipt of a report that a child fourteen years of age or younger is
11 pregnant, the department shall initiate a safety assessment in accordance with its
12 child protection procedures.
13 B. A child who is seventeen years of age or younger who is pregnant shall
14 be eligible for services provided by the department, including but not limited to
15 medical coordination, counseling, case management, and protective supervision as
16 warranted.
17 C. Nothing in this Article shall require the filing of a petition pursuant to
18 Article 631 unless independent grounds exist pursuant to Article 606.
19 * * *
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1481 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 1224
1 Art. 606. Grounds; child in need of care
2 A. Allegations that a child is in need of care shall assert one or more of the
3 following grounds:
4 * * *
5 (6) The child is twelve years of age or younger and is pregnant.
6 * * *
7 Art. 610. Reporting procedure; reports to the legislature and the United States
8 Department of Defense Family Advocacy Program
9 A. A reporter shall immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect or
10 that child abuse or neglect was a contributing factor in a child's death in the
11 following ways:
12 * * *
13 (3) Dual reporting to both the department and the local or state law
14 enforcement agency is permitted. However, the agency who receives a report
15 pursuant to Subparagraph (1) or (2) of this Paragraph shall be the agency responsible
16 for accepting and acting on the report and shall ensure referral to other agencies as
17 necessary. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Paragraph, the pregnancy of
18 a child fourteen years of age or younger shall be reported to the Department of
19 Children and Family Services.
20 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1224 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session McMakin
Abstract: Provides relative to the grounds which qualify a child in need of care, reporting
procedures, reporting procedures and safety assessments for pregnant children age
14 and under, and service eligibility for those pregnant children.
Present law provides grounds that shall be asserted for allegations that a child is in need of
care.
Proposed law provides that if a child is 12 years or younger and pregnant, that is grounds for
asserting an allegation that the child is in need of care.
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1481 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 1224
Present law provides for reporting procedures to the Dept. of Children and Family Services
(DCFS) and to law enforcement and for the reporting of child-specific information to the
legislature.
Proposed law includes that the pregnancy of children 14 years or younger shall be reported
to DCFS.
Proposed law provides for the initiation of safety assessments for reported pregnant children
that are 14 years old and under.
Proposed law provides that a pregnant child that is 17 of age or younger shall be eligible for
services provided by the department, including but not limited to medical coordination,
counseling, case management, and protective supervision.
(Amends Ch. C. Arts. 606(A)(6) and 610(A)(3); Adds Ch. C. Art. 603.2)
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.