reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
LA Chil Code art. 683 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 683. Disposition; generally

A. The court shall impose the least restrictive disposition of the alternatives enumerated in Article 681 which the court finds is consistent with the circumstances of the case, the health and safety of the child, and the best interest of society. B. The court shall place the child in the custody of a relative unless the court has made a specific finding that such placement is not in the best interest of the child. The court shall give specific written reasons for its findings, which shall be made a part of the record of the proceeding. C. If the court commits a child to a private institution or agency, it shall select one that has been licensed under state law, if licensure is required by law for such an institution or agency. When no institution, social agency, or association so licensed for care or placement of children is available to the court, the court may commit the child to some other institution, social agency, or association which in the court's judgment is suitable for such child. D. In committing a child to the custody of an individual or a private agency or institution, the court shall, whenever practicable, select a person, agency, or institution of the same religious affiliation as the child or his parents. E. A child shall not be committed to a public or private mental institution or institution for persons with mental illness unless the court finds, based on psychological or psychiatric evaluation, that the child has a mental disorder, other than an intellectual disability, which has a substantial adverse effect on his ability to function and requires care and treatment in an institution. When the child is in the custody of the state of Louisiana, this finding shall not be made without the representation of the child by an attorney appointed from the Mental Health Advocacy Service, unless such attorneys are unavailable as determined by the director or the child retains private counsel who shall represent only the interest of the child. The Mental Health Advocacy Service's attorney so appointed shall continue to represent the child in any proceeding relating to admission, change of status, or discharge from the mental hospital or psychiatric unit. Upon modification of the disposition to a placement other than a mental hospital or psychiatric unit, the Mental Health Advocacy Service's attorney shall be relieved of representation of the child. F. A child shall not be committed to a public or private institution for persons with intellectual disabilities unless the court finds, based on psychological or psychiatric evaluation, that the child has an intellectual disability and such condition has a substantial adverse effect on his ability to function and requires care and treatment in an institution. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 770, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1317, §2; Acts 2014, No. 811, §33, eff. June 23, 2014.
LA Chil Code art. 685 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 685. Parent's contribution to costs of care and treatment

A. As a part of any judgment of disposition committing a child to the custody of a person other than the parents of the child, the court may, after giving the parent a reasonable opportunity to be heard, order that the parent contribute to the cost of care and treatment of the child after consideration of the following factors: (1) The best interest of the child. (2) The recommendation of the department. (3) The ability of the parent to pay. (4) The obligation of the parent to support the child. (5) The needs of the child. (6) Any other relevant factor. B. When the department has provided or will provide payment for care and treatment of the child, the payments by the parent shall be made directly to the department and shall, immediately upon receipt, be deposited in the state treasury, except when otherwise provided by federal law. In the event of default in the payment of costs of care by the parent, the department may exercise all administrative and legal alternatives provided by law or regulation to enforce the provisions of this Article. C. When care and treatment of the child is to be provided by a caretaker other than the department, the payments by the parent shall be made according to the court's order. In the event of default in the payment of costs of care and treatment by the parent, the caretaker, if receiving the contributions, or the department may proceed against the parent as provided by law for failure to pay. D. An order for a parental contribution to the cost of care and treatment in accordance with this Article shall not be considered child support pursuant to R.S. 9:315 et seq. The court shall not order a contribution for the cost of care and treatment in accordance with this Article if the parent is obligated to pay child support pursuant to R.S. 9:315 et seq. If a valid child support order has been signed in accordance with R.S. 9:315 et seq., a previous order for parental contribution to the cost of care and treatment shall terminate by operation of law. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2004, No. 255, §1, eff. June 15, 2004; Acts 2008, No. 392, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 686 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 686. Duration of disposition

A judgment of disposition shall remain in force only until a child reaches his eighteenth birthday. It may expire earlier by its own terms, if it is modified, or if it is vacated. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
LA Chil Code art. 687 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 687. Applicability

If at any point in child in need of care proceedings, the child is removed from his parents' care and control and placed in the custody of the department, the provisions of this Chapter shall govern the subsequent case review process until such time as the child achieves a permanent placement as defined in Article 603. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
LA Chil Code art. 688 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 688. Case review reports; filing

The custodial agency shall file a case review report with the court or, if appropriate, with the administrative review body ten days prior to every scheduled review hearing. The custodial agency shall also distribute a copy of the report to any court-appointed special advocate (CASA) program involved in the case prior to or at the same time as it is filed with the court or administrative review body. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2001, No. 567, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 689 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 689. Case review reports; service

  A. A copy of the report shall be served upon counsel of record either by mail or electronic mail and upon any unrepresented party either by certified mail at his last known address or by the department by electronic mail at the electronic mail address expressly designated by the party in a pleading, at the continued custody or continued safety plan hearing, or at any other hearing at which the party personally appeared before the court prior to or at the same time it is filed with the court.  B. Service by electronic mail is complete upon transmission but is not effective if the serving party learns the transmission did not reach the party to be served.  Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 634, §1, eff. June 15, 1993; Acts 2015, No. 124, §1, eff. June 19, 2015.
LA Chil Code art. 690 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 690. Case review report purpose; contents

A. The case review report shall review the status of the child. B. The case review report shall address the following: (1) The continuing necessity for and appropriateness of the placement. (2) The extent of compliance with the case plan. (3) The extent of progress which has been made toward alleviating or mitigating the causes necessitating placement in foster care. (4) A likely date by which the child may be returned to the home or placed for adoption or guardianship of the person of the child. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
LA Chil Code art. 691 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 691. Response

Parties may file with the court a written response to the case review report, as long as the response is submitted to counsel of record and any unrepresented party at least five days prior to the review hearing.  Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 634, §1, eff. June 15, 1993.
LA Chil Code art. 692 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 692. Case review hearings

A. A review hearing shall be conducted by the court or administrative review body three months after the disposition hearing if the child was removed prior to disposition or within six months after the disposition hearing if the child was removed at disposition, but in no case more than six months after removal of the child from his parent(s). B. Case reviews shall continue to be held at least once every six months thereafter until the child is permanently placed, or earlier upon the motion of a party for good cause shown or upon the court's own motion. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
LA Chil Code art. 693 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 693. Notice

Written notice of the date, time, and place of the case review hearing shall be served and a return made in the same manner as a petition on all parties and counsel of record at least fifteen days prior to the hearing, unless the parties have been previously notified in open court at a prior hearing. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
LA Chil Code art. 694 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 694. Notice; absent parents

A. The court shall permit a case review hearing to be held in the absence of a parent if it is established on the record that the parent was served but is not in attendance or that efforts to serve the parent have been unsuccessful. B. If reunification with the absent parent is the case plan goal, the department shall make continuing diligent efforts to locate the absent parent and notify him of the nature and outcome of the case review hearing and shall promptly inform the court of any known or discovered address. Otherwise, the department shall promptly inform the court of any new address of an absent parent that becomes known through the case planning process. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2006, No. 248, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 695 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 695. Notice; foster parents, pre-adoptive parents, relatives providing care; right to be heard

A. The department shall give notice of the right to appear at each case review hearing to any foster parent, pre-adoptive parent, or relative providing care for the child. B. The notice shall state the date, time, and place of the case review hearing and the recipient's right to attend and be heard. C. If a foster parent, pre-adoptive parent, or relative providing care for the child fails to appear at a case review hearing, the department shall report to the court whether notice was given or, if not, what diligent efforts were made to locate and notify the absent person. The court may permit the hearing to be held in the person's absence. D. The court shall solicit and consider information regarding the care and treatment of the child from any foster parent, pre-adoptive parent, or relative providing care for the child who appears for the hearing. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2007, No. 334, §1; Acts 2012, No. 730, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 696 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 696. Rights of parties

A. All parties have the right to testify, the right to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses, the right to present evidence and witnesses, and the right to counsel. B. A child twelve years of age or older shall be present in court unless his presence is waived by the court upon motion of the child's counsel. A child below the age of twelve years shall be present in court upon the request of counsel for the child or the court. If the child is present in court, he may choose to testify as to his wishes, and the court shall consider his testimony in the matter. Any testimony given by a child may be taken by a videotaped interview or by closed-circuit television, as authorized by Chapter 8 of Title III of this Code, or by an in-chambers conference attended only by the judge and court reporter and by counsel for the child, for the petitioner, and for the parents. C. Any party who has received notice of the case review hearing and does not appear shall be deemed to have waived his right to be present. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2012, No. 730, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 697 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 697. Intervention

A. For good cause shown, the court or administrative review body may allow any interested person, agency, or organization to intervene in the case review proceedings to facilitate the permanent placement of the child and to insure that the best interests of the child are protected. B. Upon motion of a party and for good cause shown, the court or administrative review body may limit the nature and extent of intervenor's participation in the case review hearing. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
LA Chil Code art. 698 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 698. Presence at case review

A. All parties, foster parents, adoptive parents, and relatives providing care for the child, authorized officers of the court as designated by the judge, agency representatives as designated by the state, court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer, the witness under examination, and the judge or administrative review body may be present at a case review hearing. The court or administrative review body shall not admit any other person unless the court has determined that the person has a proper interest in or is necessary to the proceedings. B. On its own motion or the motion of any party, the court or administrative review body may order that witnesses, other than parties, be excluded from the courtroom and refrain from discussing the facts of the case with anyone other than counsel in the case. On its own motion the court or administrative review body may, and on the request of a party the court shall, order that the witnesses, other than parties, be excluded from the courtroom or from a place where they can see or hear the proceedings, and refrain from discussing the facts of the case with anyone other than counsel in the case. In the interest of justice, the court may exempt any witness from its order. C. Prior to the commencement of the hearing, the court shall determine whether it is in the child's best interest for the child to remain in the courtroom during the testimony of the witnesses. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2006, No. 764, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 699 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 699. Evidence

The court or administrative review body shall consider all relevant evidence offered by the parties and may limit the admissibility or weight of any evidence which it deems unreliable, cumulative, or unduly dilatory. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
LA Chil Code art. 700 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 700. Order; appeal

  A. At the conclusion of the case review hearing, the court may take one of the following actions:  (1) Approve the plan as consistent with the health and safety of the child and order compliance by all parties.  (2) Find that the case plan is not appropriate, in whole or in part, based on the evidence presented at the contradictory hearing, and order the department to revise the case plan accordingly.  B. At the conclusion of the case review hearing, the court shall inform the parents of all of the following:  (1) It is their obligation to cooperate with the department, comply with the requirements of the case plan, including their duty to keep the department apprised of their current address, and to correct the conditions requiring the child to be in care.  (2) It is their continuing responsibility to support the achievement of timely permanency for the child and to advise the department and the court in writing of the whereabouts, including the address, cellular number, telephone number, and any other contact information, of all grandparents, all parents of a sibling where such parent has legal custody of such sibling, and all other adult relatives of the child.  (3) A termination of parental rights petition may be filed based on their failure to comply with the case plan, failure to make significant measurable progress toward achieving case plan goals and to correct the conditions requiring the child to be in care, or on any other ground authorized by Article 1015.  C. Any person directly affected may appeal the findings or orders of the court rendered pursuant to this Article.  Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2015, No. 124, §1, eff. June 19, 2015.
LA Chil Code art. 701 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 701. Applicability

If at any point in child in need of care proceedings, the child is removed from his parents' care and control and placed in the custody of the department, the provisions of this Chapter shall govern the subsequent review process until such time as the child achieves a permanent placement as defined in Article 603. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
LA Chil Code art. 703 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 703. Notice

Written notice of the date, time, and place of the dispositional hearing shall be served and a return made in the same manner as a petition on all parties and counsel of record at least fifteen days prior to the hearing, unless the parties have been previously notified in open court at a prior hearing. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
LA Chil Code art. 704 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 704. Notice; absent parents

A. The court shall permit a permanency hearing to be held in the absence of a parent if it is established on the record that the parent was served but is not in attendance or that efforts to serve the parent have been unsuccessful. B. If reunification with the absent parent is the case plan goal, the department shall make continuing diligent efforts to locate the absent parent and notify him of the nature and outcome of the dispositional review hearing and shall promptly inform the court of any known or discovered address. Otherwise, the department shall promptly inform the court of any new address of an absent parent that becomes known through the case planning process. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2006, No. 248, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 705 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 705. Notice; right to be heard

A. The department shall give notice of the right to appear at each permanency hearing to any foster parent, pre-adoptive parent, or relative providing care for the child. B. The notice shall state the date, time, and place of the permanency hearing and the recipient's right to attend and be heard. C. If a foster parent, pre-adoptive parent, or relative providing care for the child fails to appear at a permanency hearing, the department shall report to the court whether notice was given or, if not, what diligent efforts were made to locate and notify the absent person. The court may permit the hearing to be held in the person's absence. D. The court shall solicit and consider information regarding the care and treatment of the child from any foster parent, pre-adoptive parent, or relative providing care for the child who appears for the hearing. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2007, No. 334, §1; Acts 2012, No. 730, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 706 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 706. Rights of parties

A. All parties have the right to testify, the right to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses, the right to present evidence and witnesses, and the right to counsel. B. A child twelve years of age or older shall be present in court unless his presence is waived by the court upon motion of the child's counsel. A child below the age of twelve years shall be present in court upon the request of counsel for the child or the court. If the child is present in court, he may choose to testify as to his wishes, and the court shall consider his testimony in the matter. Any testimony given by a child may be taken by a videotaped interview or by closed-circuit television, as authorized by Chapter 8 of Title III of this Code, or by an in-chambers conference attended only by the judge and court reporter and by counsel for the child, for the petitioner, and for the parents. C. Any party who has received notice of the dispositional review hearing and does not appear shall be deemed to have waived his right to be present. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2012, No. 730, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 707 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 707. Intervention

A. For good cause shown, the court or administrative review body may allow any interested person, agency, or organization to intervene in the permanency review proceedings to facilitate the permanent plan for the child and to insure that the best interests of the child are protected. B. Upon motion of a party and for good cause shown, the court or administrative review body may limit the nature and extent of intervenor's participation in the hearing. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999.
LA Chil Code art. 708 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 708. Presence at permanency hearing

A. All parties, foster parents, adoptive parents, and relatives providing care for the child, authorized officers of the court as designated by the judge, agency representatives as designated by the state, court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer, the witness under examination, and the judge or administrative review body may be present at a permanency hearing. The court or administrative review body shall not admit any other person unless the court has determined that the person has a proper interest in or is necessary to the proceedings. B. On its own motion or the motion of any party, the court or administrative review body may order that witnesses, other than parties, be excluded from the courtroom and refrain from discussing the facts of the case with anyone other than counsel in the case. On its own motion the court or administrative review body may, and on the request of a party the court shall, order that the witnesses, other than parties, be excluded from the courtroom or from a place where they can see or hear the proceedings, and refrain from discussing the facts of the case with anyone other than counsel in the case. In the interest of justice, the court may exempt any witness from its order. C. Prior to the commencement of the hearing, the court shall determine whether it is in the child's best interest for the child to remain in the courtroom during the testimony of the witnesses. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2006, No. 764, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 709 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 709. Evidence

The court shall consider all relevant evidence offered by the parties and may limit the admissibility or weight of any evidence which it deems unreliable, cumulative, or unduly dilatory. The court or administrative review body may consider evidence which would not be admissible at the adjudication hearing. Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999.