Louisiana Children’s Code 581 – Child Protection Representation Commission; establishment; purpose and functions
Terms Used In Louisiana Children's Code 581
- Caucus: From the Algonquian Indian language, a caucus meant "to meet together." An informal organization of members of the legislature that exists to discuss issues of mutual concern and possibly to perform legislative research and policy planning for its members. There are regional, political or ideological, ethnic, and economic-based caucuses.
- Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
A. The Child Protection Representation Commission, referred to hereinafter as the “commission”, is hereby established for the purpose of reviewing the system of representation of children and indigent parents in child protection cases as provided in Chapters 5 and 6 of this Title. The commission shall be composed of the following members:
(1) The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services or his designee.
(2) The chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court or his designee.
(3) The chairman of the House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure or his designee.
(4) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary A or his designee.
(5) The president or designee of the Louisiana Bar Association.
(6) The executive director or designee of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association.
(7) The state public defender or designee of the Louisiana Public Defender Board.
(8) The president or designee of the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
(9) The chairwoman of the Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus or her designee.
B. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, except for the members of the legislature who shall receive a per diem in accordance with La. Rev. Stat. 42:3.1.
C. The commission shall request and have the authority to obtain all information necessary to review the system of representation and shall meet periodically but in no event less than once annually. The commission shall ascertain the continued effectiveness and efficiency of the system and the adequacy of funding and may, at its discretion, issue such reports and recommendations as it deems necessary to ensure the programmatic efficacy and fiscal viability of the system.
Acts 2014, No. 354, §1; Acts 2016, No. 153, §1.