Louisiana

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS: Authorizes a district attorney to convene a multidisciplinary team in cases of prenatal addiction.

Proposed law provides that a district attorney may convene a multidisciplinary team to assist in making a determination of the appropriate disposition of a case where a pregnant woman is abusing or is addicted to controlled dangerous substances or alcohol to the extent that the unborn child is at risk of harm. Requires at least one member of the team to have training and experience in the treatment of addiction. Proposed law defines "appropriate disposition".

An act...relative to pregnant women; to provide for the convening of a multidisciplinary team by a district attorney regarding the disposition of cases involving pregnant women who are abusing or addicted to alcohol or controlled dangerous substances to the extent that the unborn child is at risk of harm; to provide for the makeup of the multidisciplinary team; to provide for definition of "appropriate disposition" to include but not be limited to filing a petition for involuntary commitment to a public facility or a private facility willing to accept the pregnant woman for treamtne; and to provide for related matters.

Authorizes the district attorney to convene a multi-disciplinary team to aid pregnant women who are abusing alcohol and drugs.

A request to study substance abuse by pregnant women in the criminal justice system, propose treatment options, and to report their findings to the House of Representatives prior to the convening of the 2010 Regular Session.

Urges and requests the Department of Health and Hospitals and Department of Social Services to convene a study group to improve the substance abuse treatment rate among pregnant mothers under state supervision.

Creates the Nurse-Family Partnership Advisory Council and requests the Department of Health and Hospitals in conjunction with the Nurse-Family Partnership to study the expansion of the evidence-based Nurse-Family Partnership. The Nurse-Family Partnership is a home visiting program that has been shown to improve pregnancy outcomes by helping women engage in preventative health practices, including reducing their use of alcohol.

To amend and reenact Children's Code Articles 437(A), 603(16.1), and 610(G) and to enact Children's Code Article 603(14.1.1), relative to the Children's Code; to provide for referral to mediation; to provide with respect to the definition of newborn; to add alcohol exposure to the definition of prenatal neglect; to provide for the duty of a physician to issue a report in certain instances; and to provide for related matters.

AN ACT To amend and reenact Children's Code Articles 603(16.1) and 610(G) and to enact Children's Code Article 603(14.1.1), relative to prenatal neglect; to provide with respect to the definition of newborn; to add alcohol exposure to the definition of prenatal neglect; to provide for the duty of a physician to issue a report in certain instances; and to provide for related matters.

Enacts safe haven relinquishment provisions for newborn infants whereby any parent may relinquish the care of an infant to the state without prosecution; provides that an act of relinquishment constitutes parental consent for the purposes of examining and testing if the infant suffered fetal exposure to alcohol or drugs.