§35.1. Battery of a child welfare or adult protective service worker

            A.(1) Battery of a child welfare or adult protective service worker is a battery committed without the consent of the victim when the offender has reasonable grounds to believe the victim is a child welfare or adult protective service worker working in the performance of employment duties who has presented proper identification.

            (2) For purposes of this Section, "child welfare worker" shall include any child protection investigator, family services worker, foster care worker, adoption worker, any supervisor of the above, or any person authorized to transport clients for the agency, or court appointed special advocate (CASA) program representative.

            (3) For purposes of this Section, "adult protective service worker" shall include any adult protection specialist or adult protection specialist supervisor employed by the Louisiana Department of Health or the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs.

            B. Whoever commits the crime of battery of a child welfare or adult protective service worker shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars and shall be imprisoned not less than fifteen days nor more than six months, or both. At least seventy-two hours of the sentence imposed shall be served without benefit of suspension of sentence. If the battery produces an injury which requires medical attention, the offender shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than one year nor more than five years, or both.

            Acts 1987, No. 902, §1; Acts 2005, No. 59, §1, eff. June 16, 2005; Acts 2008, No. 43, §1.