2016 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 15 - Criminal Procedure
RS 15: 1110.1 - Operating without or in violation of license or regulations; penalties

§1110.1. Operating without or in violation of license or regulations; penalties

A. Whoever operates a juvenile detention facility without a valid license issued by the Department of Children and Family Services pursuant to R.S. 15:1110 shall be fined one thousand dollars for each day of operation without the valid license. In addition to seeking civil fines imposed pursuant to the provisions of this Section, if any juvenile detention facility operates without a valid license issued by the department, the department may file suit in the district court in the parish in which the facility is located for injunctive relief, including a temporary restraining order, to restrain the institution, society, agency, corporation, person or persons, or any other group operating the facility, from continuing the violation.

B.(1) No person shall operate any juvenile detention facility in violation of any provision of R.S. 15:1110, or any other state or federal statute, regulation, or any department rule adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act that governs the ownership or operation of juvenile detention facilities.

(2) In lieu of revocation of the facility's license, the department may issue a written warning that includes a corrective action plan to any person or entity violating these requirements when the violation creates a condition or occurrence relating to the operation and maintenance of a juvenile detention facility that does not pose an imminent threat to the health, safety, rights, or welfare of a child. Failure to implement a corrective action plan issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section may result in either the assessment of a civil fine or license revocation or may result in both actions being taken by the department. Such civil fines shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars per day for each fine assessment; however, the aggregate fines assessed for violations determined in any consecutive twelve-month period shall not exceed two thousand dollars.

(3) The department shall adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act that provide specific factors for determining the type of sanction to be imposed including severity of risk, actual harm, failure to implement a written corrective action plan, mitigating circumstances, the history of noncompliance and an explanation of the treatment of continuing noncompliance, an explanation of the treatment of continuing repeat deficiencies, evidence of good faith effort to comply, and any other relevant factors. The department shall develop and adopt rules and regulations required by this Paragraph with input and guidance from the Louisiana Juvenile Detention Association. The authority to impose sanctions pursuant to this Section shall commence on the effective date of the rules promulgated pursuant to this Section.

C.(1) The department shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to provide for notice to the juvenile detention facility of any violation, for a departmental reconsideration process for sanctions issued, and for an appeal procedure, including judicial review.

(2) An appeal of any department decision for a violation of any provision of this Part shall be suspensive. All appeals filed pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be heard by the division of administrative law pursuant to Chapter 13-B of Title 49 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. The division shall furnish the facility or agency a copy of the decision, together with notice of the procedure for requesting judicial review.

D. The department may institute all necessary civil court actions to collect fines imposed that are not timely appealed. No juvenile detention facility may claim imposed fines as reimbursable. Interest shall begin to accrue at the current judicial rate on the day following the date on which any fines become due and payable. All costs of any successful action to collect such fines, including travel expenses and reasonable attorney fees, shall be awarded to the department in addition to the fines.

E.(1) Civil fines collected pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be deposited immediately into the state treasury.

(2) After compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, and prior to the monies being placed in the state general fund, an amount equal to the amount deposited as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall be credited to a special fund hereby created in the state treasury to be known as the "Juvenile Detention Licensing Trust Fund". The monies in the fund shall be subject to annual appropriation and shall be available exclusively for use by the Department of Children and Family Services for the education and training of employees, staff, or other personnel of juvenile detention facilities.

(3) The monies in the fund shall be invested by the treasurer in the same manner as the monies in the state general fund, and all interest earned from the investment of monies in the fund shall be deposited in and remain to the credit of the fund. All unexpended and unencumbered monies remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund.

(4) The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services may promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to provide for the administration of the fund.

Acts 2012, No. 814, §1, eff. July 1, 2013.