HB 584: CHILDREN/FOSTER CARE: Provides relative to children in foster care (EN +$11,125 EX See Note) - Louisiana

HB584 Original → HB584 Act 655 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill expands the rights of children in foster care by adding protections for privacy, education, cultural traditions, and discrimination, while strictly prohibiting the use of garbage bags for moving belongings. It also mandates that local districts and host families provide durable, reusable luggage and organize biennial donation drives to ensure children have appropriate items for their placement.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of the Foster Youth's Children's Bill of Rights to include children from birth through age eighteen (previously limited to ages fourteen through eighteen) and adds numerous new substantive rights regarding their daily life and care.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the age range for rights from ages fourteen to eighteen to include all children from birth through age eighteen.

Modified the criteria for granting rights to include a determination that they are 'age appropriate' in addition to being in the best interest of the youth.

REQUIREMENT

Added a strict prohibition against using garbage bags for moving children's belongings, requiring durable, reusable containers like backpacks or suitcases instead.

Mandated that local social services districts and host families host biennial luggage donation drives to distribute proper luggage to foster children.

Introduced new rights including privacy, stability, participation in case planning, medical needs, trauma counseling, contact with caseworkers, school access, cultural/religious freedom, non-discrimination, and access to Independent Living Skills programs.

HB584 Enrolled → HB584 Original · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to remove references to specific sponsors and the original multi-section structure, replacing them with a concise, single-section act focused exclusively on the right to proper luggage. The new version explicitly prohibits the use of garbage bags for moving foster children and defines acceptable luggage types, while also assigning the responsibility of providing this luggage to local social services districts.

Scope change

The scope was narrowed from a broad 'Bill of Rights' covering privacy, education, and medical needs to a specific mandate regarding luggage and the prohibition of garbage bags.

SCOPE

Removed the extensive list of sponsors and the original multi-part structure covering privacy, education, and medical rights.

REQUIREMENT

Added a strict prohibition against using garbage bags to move foster children between homes.

Changed the requirement for luggage provision from a joint departmental/host-family responsibility to a specific duty of local social services districts.

DEFINITION

Defined acceptable luggage as durable, reusable containers like backpacks, boxes, or suitcases in new or like-new condition.

HB584 Reengrossed → HB584 Enrolled · 4 edits · May 27, 2026

MODERATE

This bill was transitioned from a reengrossed version to an enrolled version, finalizing its text for signing into law. The substantive policy changes include renaming the bill to emphasize children's rights, expanding eligibility to include children from birth rather than just ages 14-18, and clarifying that host families are responsible for keeping the provided luggage with the child.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include children from birth through age eighteen, whereas the previous version only applied to youth ages fourteen through eighteen.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the age range for foster youth protections from ages 14-18 to include children from birth through age 18.

DEFINITION

Changed the short title from 'Privileges of Foster Youth's Bill of Rights' to 'Foster Youth's Children's Bill of Rights' to reflect the expanded age range.

REQUIREMENT

Added a specific requirement for host families to ensure that proper luggage provided to the child remains with them.

TECHNICAL

Updated the list of sponsors to include Senators Boudreaux, Cloud, Hodges, Luneau, and McMath, and reorganized the formatting of the sponsor list.

HB584 Engrossed → HB584 Reengrossed · 4 edits · May 18, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was reengrossed to expand the number of sponsoring representatives and significantly rewrite the law to establish a comprehensive 'Bill of Rights' for foster youth. The changes shift the focus from a single provision about luggage to a broader set of 19 rights covering privacy, education, healthcare, cultural traditions, and financial allowances. The specific requirement for proper luggage remains, but it is now part of a larger framework ensuring dignity and safety for children in care.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a narrow focus on luggage logistics to a comprehensive set of rights and privileges for youth ages 14 through 18 in foster care.

SCOPE

Added a new 'Bill of Rights' section granting 19 specific privileges to foster youth, including privacy, participation in case planning, access to counseling, and protection from discrimination.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the luggage requirement to be one of many rights rather than the sole focus, while maintaining the prohibition on garbage bags and the mandate for durable, reusable containers.

Added new requirements for host families to ensure luggage accompanies each child and for the Department to host biennial luggage donation drives.

TECHNICAL

Updated the list of bill sponsors to include additional representatives and corrected the statutory citation from a subsection to the entire section.

CHILDREN/FOSTER CARE: Provides relative to children in foster care (EN +$11,125 EX See Note)

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