SB 66 — CHILDREN: Provides for testimony of medical experts in child custody and in need of care cases. (8/1/26)

SLS 26RS-71 ENGROSSED Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO.

66 BY SENATOR HODGES CHILDREN.AND REPRESENTATIVES CHENEVERT, EDMONSTON AND LARVADAIN AN ACT To enact Subpart I of Part III of Chapter 1 of Code Title V of Code Book I of Title 9 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of R.S.

Provides for testimonyofmedicalexpertsin childcustodyandin needofcare cases.

(8/1/26) AN ACT To enact Subpart I of Part III of Chapter 1 of Code Title V of Code Book I of Title 9 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of R.S.

Subpart IIof of Part III of Chapter 1 of Code Title V of Code Book Iof Title 9 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S.

priority for trial In any proceeding in which a medical expert has been subpoenaed to testify based upon allegations of abuse ororneglectof neglectachild, ofthe achild,court thecourtshallshall take the testimony of the medical expert in priority to the parties and other witnesses,absentextenuatingcircumstancesthatwouldprohibitthisprocedure.

The court shall take the testimony of the medical expert for all purposes by Pagewhich 1the ofmedical 2expert's Coding:appearance is responsive to a subpoena.

§360.1.

Applicability Page 1 of 2 Coding:

SLS 26RS-71 ENGROSSED SB NO.

66 whichENROLLED The provisions of this Subpart shall apply to child custody proceedings pursuant to Title V of the medicalCivil expert'sCode appearanceand ischild responsivein need of care proceedings pursuant to aTitle subpoena.VI of the Children's Code.

§360.1.PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:

Applicability The provisions of this Subpart shall apply to child custody proceedings pursuant to Title V of the Civil Code and child in need of care proceedings pursuant to Title VI of the Children's Code.

The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.

The keyword, summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] DIGEST SB 66 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Hodges Proposed law provides that in any proceeding in which a medical expert has been subpoenaed to testify based upon allegations of abuse or neglect of a child, the court shall take the testimony of the medical expert priority to the parties and other witnesses, absent extenuating circumstances that would prohibit this procedure.

The court shall take the testimony of the medical expert for all purposes by which the medical expert's appearance is responsive to a subpoena.

Proposed law provides that the provisions of proposed law shall apply to child custody proceedings pursuant to present law, Title V of the C.C.

and child in need of care proceedings pursuant to present law, Title VI of the Ch.C.

Effective August 1, 2026.

(Adds R.S.

9:360-360.1) Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary A to the original bill 1.

Clarifies that the court shall take the testimony experts in priority to parties and witnesses absent extenuating circumstances.

2.

Deletes provision regarding a motion for continuance.