COURTS: Provides relative to the use of a facility dog by a witness during certain circumstances

HLS 26RS-784 REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 126
BY REPRESENTATIVES MANDIE LANDRY, ADAMS, AMEDEE, BAYHAM,
BOUDREAUX, BOYD, CHASSION, CHENEVERT, CREWS, DOMANGUE,
EGAN, FREIBERG, GALLE, GREEN, DANA HENRY, HILFERTY, JORDAN,
KERNER, KNOX, LACOMBE, LAFLEUR, TERRY LANDRY, LARVADAIN,
MARTINEZ, MCMAHEN, MCMAKIN, MOORE, MURRAY, OWEN, PHELPS,
SAWYER, STAGNI, TAYLOR, THOMPSON, VENTRELLA, AND WYBLE
COURTS: Provides relative to the use of a facility dog by a witness during certain
circumstances
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 15:284(A), (D), and (F), relative to the use of facility dogs; to
3 provide for the use of facility dogs by victims of sex offenses; and to provide for
4 related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 15:284(A), (D), and (F) are hereby amended and reenacted to read
7 as follows:
8 §284. Facility dogs; use in court; procedure
9 A. The court shall allow a any witness who is either under eighteen years of
10 age, or who has a developmental disability as defined in R.S. 28:451.2, or who is in
11 a trial for a sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541 to have be accompanied by a
12 facility dog, if available, accompany them while testifying in court.
13 * * *
14 D. To ensure that the presence of a facility dog does not influence the jury
15 or is not a reflection on the truthfulness of any testimony that is offered by the victim
16 or witness, the court shall may order that the presence of the dog be obscured from
17 the jury at all times and may instruct the jury on the role of the facility dog and, on
18 the court's own motion or upon request of either party. The court shall ensure that the
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HB NO. 126
1 facility dog is a trained animal. The facility dog's entry into and exit from the
2 courtroom shall be done outside the presence of the jury.
3 * * *
4 F. This Section may be referred to and may be cited as "Duvall's Duvall and
5 Karissa's Law".
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 126 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Mandie Landry
Abstract: Authorizes the use of facility dogs by certain witnesses who participate in trials
relative to sex offenses.
Present law requires the court to allow a witness who is either under 18 years of age or who
has a developmental disability to be accompanied by a facility dog, if available, while
testifying in court.
Present law authorizes the court to allow the use of facility dogs in cases involving all other
witnesses.
Present law requires notice to the court and provides for jury instructions regarding the role
of the facility dog.
Present law defines "facility dog" as a dog that is certified and a graduate of an assistance
dog organization that is accredited and is specially trained to provide emotional support to
witnesses testifying in judicial proceedings without causing a distraction during the
proceedings.
Proposed law retains present law and requires the court to allow a witness in any trial of a
sex offense to be accompanied by a facility dog, if available, while testifying in court.
Proposed law permits the court to order that the presence of the dog be obstructed from the
view of the jury. On motion of the court or either party, permits the court to instruct the jury
on the role of the dog. Further requires that the dog's entry and exit from the courtroom be
conducted out of the presence of the jury.
Proposed law provides that the law be referred to and cited as "Duvall and Karissa's Law".
(Amends R.S. 15:284(A), (D), and (F))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the
engrossed bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Provide that a witness in a trial of a sex offense may be accompanied by a facility
dog.
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HB NO. 126
3. Require that the presence of the dog be obstructed from the jury's view.
4. Require the entry and exit of the dog from the courtroom to be outside of the
presence of the jury.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Make technical corrections.
2. Permit the court or the parties to order that the facility dog's presence be
obscured from the presence of the jury.
3. Permit the court or the parties to make a motion to instruct the jury on the role
of the facility dog.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.