Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 28, § 31. Findings

The legislature finds that there is a need for a secured residential facility for any person found not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity or found incompetent to stand trial after such person has been released from a state forensic facility. Historically, all secured residential facilities have been overseen by the Department of Children and Family Services under its authority to regulate traditional adult residential care homes. Nevertheless, it is now more appropriate and efficient for the Louisiana Department of Health to license and regulate secured residential facilities serving forensic clients due to the mental health issues of the residents, the fact that the individuals are discharged from forensic hospitals operated by the Louisiana Department of Health, and the security issues involved at such facilities. Thus, the licensing of secured residential facilities serving forensic clients shall be transferred from the Department of Children and Family Services to the Louisiana Department of Health and licensed as forensic supervised transitional residential and aftercare facilities in accordance with this Part. The licensing of all other adult residential care homes shall remain in the Department of Children and Family Services pursuant to R.S. 40:2151 through 2161.