SB 396 — JUVENILE JUSTICE: Provides that children in custody of the office of juvenile justice may attend review hearings via secure video conference. (8/1/26)

SLS 26RS-645 REENGROSSED Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO.

396 BY SENATOR CLOUD JUVENILEJUSTICE.ProvidesthatchildrenincustodyoftheofficeofjuvenilejusticemayAN attendACT reviewTo hearingsamend viaand securereenact videoChildren's conference.Code Art.

(8/1/26) AN ACT To amend and reenact Children's Code Art.

906(B)(5) is herebyenactedhereby enacted to read as follows:

children in custody of the office of juvenile justice * * * B.(1) Anychild committed bya court to the custodyof the officeof juvenile justicemust bephysicallytransportedto thecommittingcourtforan in-person shall participatebephysicallytransported into anthecommittingcourtforanin-person in-personreviewhearingnotmorethansixmonthsafterthechild'scommitment,andeverysix review hearing not more than six months afterthereafter, theunless child'ssuch commitment, andshall be physically transported to thecommitting court for an in-person hearing everyis sixwaived monthsby thereafter,counsel unlessfor suchthe anchild in-personand Pagebythe 1committing ofcourt. 3 Coding:

The date of the initial review hearingshall be set by the court at the time of disposition.

The court may order review hearings set more frequently than the in-person hearings every six months, but for such additionalhearingsthechildshallparticipateviaavideoconferencingplatform.

Staff of the office of juvenile justice and contract staff shall participate in each review hearing in the same manner as the child who is required to participate in accordance with this Subparagraph.

* * * (3) For the purposes of this Paragraph, a child is deemed "committed by a court to the custodyof the office of juvenile justice" if he is judiciallycommitted to the legal custody of the office of juvenile justice, regardless of where the child is Page 1 of 2 Coding:

SLS 26RS-645 REENGROSSED SB NO.

396 hearingENROLLED isphysically waivedheld, byincluding counselbut fornot limited to state-run secure facilities, state-run nonsecure facilities, private facilities with which the childoffice of juvenile justice contracts, and bythejuvenile committingdetention court.centers.

The date of the initial review hearing shall be set by the court at the time of disposition.

The court may order review hearings set more frequently than the in-person hearings every six months, but for such additional hearings the child shall participateviaavideoconferencingplatform.Officeofjuvenilejusticestaffand contract staff shall participate virtually in required review hearings.

* * * (3) For the purposes of this Paragraph, a child is deemed "committed by a court to the custodyof the office of juvenile justice" if he is judiciallycommitted to the legal custody of the office of juvenile justice, regardless of where the child is physically held, including but not limited to state-run secure facilities, state-run nonsecure facilities, private facilities with which the office of juvenile justice contracts, and juvenile detention centers.

ThePRESIDENT originalOF instrumentTHE andSENATE theSPEAKER followingOF digest,THE whichHOUSE constitutesOF noREPRESENTATIVES partGOVERNOR ofOF theTHE legislativeSTATE instrument,OF wereLOUISIANA preparedAPPROVED: bySenate Legislative Services.

ThePage keyword,2 summary, and digest do not constitute part of the2 lawCoding: or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] DIGEST SB 396 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Cloud Presentlaw(Ch.C.

Art.906)requirestheOJJ to physicallytransportanychildin its custody to the committing court for an in-person review hearing not more than 6 months after the child's commitment, and at least every 6 months thereafter, unless the in-person hearingis waived by counsel for the child and by the committing court.

Proposed law provides that any child committed by a court to the custody of the office of juvenile justice shall participate in a review hearing via a video conference platform not more than six months after the child's commitment, and shall be physically transported to the committing court for an in-person hearing every six months thereafter, unless such an Page 2 of 3 Coding:

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SLS 26RS-645 REENGROSSED SB NO.

396 in-person hearing is waived by counsel for the child and by the committing court.

Further provides that the date of the initial review hearing shall be set by the court at the time of disposition.

Proposedlawprovidesthatthecourtmayorderreviewhearingssetmorefrequentlythanthe in-person hearings every six months, but for additional hearings the child shall participate via a video conferencing platform.

Proposed law providesthatofficeofjuvenilejusticestaffandcontractstaffshall participate virtually in required review hearings.

Proposed law provides that any child committed by a court to the custody of the office of juvenile justice shall have the right to participate in a private and confidential virtual consultation with his counselof recordpriorto anyreviewhearingorotherproceeding.The consultation shall be conducted through a secure video conferencing platform that ensures end-to-end confidentiality.

Present law provides that a child is deemed "committed by a court to the custody of the office of juvenile justice" if he is judicially committed to the legal custody of the OJJ, regardless of where the child is physically held, including detention centers.

Proposedlawretainspresentlawandclarifiesthat"detentioncenters"arejuveniledetention centers.

(Amends Ch.C.

Art.

906(B)(1) and (3);

adds Ch.C.

Art.

906(B)(5)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary A to the original bill 1.

Makes technical changes.

2.

Requires an in-person review hearing every six months for a child in the custody of the office of juvenile justice.

Senate Floor Amendments to bill 1.