SB 333: CHILDREN: Provides relative to a caregiver providing care to a child in need of care proceedings. (8/1/26) - Louisiana

Senate Floor Bureau Note, #3008, Cloud, Adopted → SB333 Act · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill transforms into a comprehensive act establishing a new legal framework for reimbursing legal representation costs in child welfare cases under federal Title IV-E funding. It creates specific definitions for legal representation agencies and mandates that the Department of Children and Family Services negotiate contracts to allow these agencies to claim federal reimbursement for legal services. The act ensures that reimbursed funds remain with the legal agencies to support their services rather than being reallocated by the state.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded significantly from a floor amendment note to a full act enacting new articles (581.1 through 581.4) and modifying existing definitions in the Children's Code, specifically adding provisions for 'pre-adoptive parents' and 'prenatal neglect'.

FISCAL

Established a new process for legal representation agencies to receive federal Title IV-E reimbursement for legal costs in child care proceedings.

Mandated that reimbursed funds be retained by the legal agency and cannot be reallocated or reduced by the state department.

REQUIREMENT

Required the Department of Children and Family Services to negotiate good-faith contractual agreements with legal agencies, including provisions for billing, documentation, and audits.

Required the department to promulgate new rules implementing these reimbursement and contract provisions within one year of enactment.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'pre-adoptive parent' and 'prenatal neglect' to clarify eligibility and case planning requirements.

SB333 Original → Senate Floor Bureau Note, #3008, Cloud, Adopted · 3 edits

MINOR

Senate amendments refined the bill's definitions and procedural requirements for caregivers in child welfare cases. The changes clarify that the new rules apply to the broader 'Chapter' rather than just the 'Article,' and ensure the legal text explicitly includes 'definitions' alongside 'claims' to organize the new provisions properly.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was broadened from a specific 'Article' to the entire 'Chapter,' and the text was updated to explicitly include definitions within the scope of the new provisions.

DEFINITION

The term 'Article' was changed to 'Chapter' to ensure the new caregiver provisions apply to the entire legislative chapter.

The phrase 'claims; definitions' was added to the text to explicitly categorize the new definitions alongside other legal claims.

TECHNICAL

A line containing the word 'claims' was deleted to correct the phrasing and structure of the bill's introductory text.

SB333 Enrolled → SB333 Original · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from SB 333 to SLS 26RS-495 and its legislative text was significantly rewritten to shift focus from legal representation funding to caregiver involvement in child welfare proceedings. The new version introduces a specific definition for 'caregiver' and establishes a mechanism for courts to grant 'limited participatory status' to caregivers who have provided continuous care for at least six months, allowing them to testify regarding the child's safety and permanency.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to explicitly include non-relative caregivers (such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and foster parents) in the legal framework for child in need of care proceedings, whereas the previous version focused primarily on legal representation costs.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'caregiver' to include relatives, foster parents, and other non-relative adults providing care to a child in need of care.

ELIGIBILITY

Created a new eligibility pathway for 'limited participatory status' for caregivers who have cared for a child for at least six months, allowing them to present evidence on the child's best interests.

FISCAL

Removed detailed provisions regarding Title IV-E legal representation reimbursement rates, billing processes, and administrative fee incorporation.

REQUIREMENT

Modified court hearing requirements to mandate soliciting testimony from caregivers regarding child safety, placement stability, and emotional development.

SCOPE

Changed the bill's primary purpose from amending existing articles on legal representation to enacting a new article specifically focused on caregiver participation and disposition hearings.

SB333 Reengrossed → SB333 Enrolled · 5 edits · May 28, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as 'Enrolled' and includes new provisions to fund legal representation for children in foster care using federal Title IV-E funds. It establishes a process for the state to negotiate contracts with legal agencies, mandates specific billing and audit requirements, and adds new definitions for 'pre-adoptive parent' and 'prenatal neglect' to clarify eligibility and care standards.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a formal framework for reimbursing legal representation costs for children, parents, and caregivers in foster care and adoption proceedings, moving from a reengrossed draft to an enacted law.

FISCAL

New Article 581.1 defines 'Title IV-E eligible legal representation costs' and allows agencies to claim federal reimbursement for legal services provided to eligible children and families.

Article 581.3 clarifies that funds received for legal representation cannot be reallocated or reduced by the state and must be retained by the legal agency to support their services.

REQUIREMENT

Article 581.2 requires the Department of Children and Family Services to negotiate contracts with legal agencies, provide technical assistance for claims, and include specific provisions for billing, documentation, and audits in these agreements.

DEFINITION

Article 603 adds definitions for 'pre-adoptive parent' (someone identified in a case plan or granted custody for adoption) and 'prenatal neglect' (exposure to substances causing withdrawal or harmful effects in a newborn).

TIMELINE

The bill specifies that the department must promulgate rules to implement these new funding and contract provisions by July 1st of the year following enactment.

SB333 Engrossed → SB333 Reengrossed · 4 edits · May 5, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was reengrossed to correct page numbering and formatting errors from the previous version. Substantively, the bill expanded the definition of eligible legal representation agencies to include the Mental Health Advocacy Service and clarified that reimbursement funds must remain available to support legal services for children in foster care and adoption proceedings. The department is also required to provide technical assistance to these agencies to ensure compliance with federal requirements.

Scope change

The scope of eligible legal representation agencies was expanded to explicitly include the Mental Health Advocacy Service, and the bill now clarifies that reimbursement funds cannot be reallocated by the state.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'legal representation agency' was updated to explicitly include the Mental Health Advocacy Service alongside existing entities like the state public defender and district attorney's office.

FISCAL

New provisions were added stating that federal reimbursement funds received by agencies cannot be reallocated or reduced by the department and must remain available to support legal representation services.

REQUIREMENT

The department is now required to provide technical assistance to legal representation agencies to help them comply with federal requirements for claiming reimbursement.

TECHNICAL

Formatting errors were corrected, including updating the page count from 14 to 13 and changing the status header from 'Engrossed' to 'Reengrossed'.

CHILDREN: Provides relative to a caregiver providing care to a child in need of care proceedings. (8/1/26)

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors