Art. 661.1. Federal Indian Child Welfare Act inquiry
A. At the commencement of the adjudication hearing, the court shall inquire as to
whether the petitioner or any person before the court knows or has reason to know that the
child is an Indian child. If no person before the court responds affirmatively, the court may
proceed, although it shall instruct each person before the court to inform the court if he
subsequently discovers information indicating that the child is an Indian child.
B. In accordance with Article 624.1, if the court finds that there is reason to know
that the child is an Indian child, the court shall immediately proceed pursuant to the federal
Indian Child Welfare Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
C. If a tribe fails to respond to multiple requests for verification that the child is an
Indian child and the court or department has sought the assistance of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs in contacting the tribe, the court may make the determination that the child is not an
Indian child based on the information it has available and proceed to adjudication in
accordance with this Title.
Acts 2018, No. 296, §1.