NOTE: §2024.4 as enacted by Acts 2021, No. 320, eff. upon availability of sufficient funding by nongovernmental sources or by specific legislative appropriation.

§2024.4. Functions; duties of the review panel

            A. The functions of the review panel shall include:

            (1) Identify and characterize the scope and nature of domestic abuse fatalities in this state and, if the decedent victim is female, report all of the following:

            (a) Whether the decedent was pregnant at the time of death.

            (b) Is there medical evidence that indicates that the decedent had been recently pregnant but was no longer pregnant at the time of death.

            (c) Whether the decedent was single, married, or divorced to the extent such information can be determined.

            (2) Research and review trends, data, or patterns that are observed of domestic abuse fatalities.

            (3) Review past events and circumstances of domestic abuse fatalities by reviewing records and other pertinent documents of public and private agencies that are responsible for investigating deaths or treating victims.

            (4) Research and revise, as necessary, operating rules and procedures for review of domestic abuse fatalities including but not limited to identification of cases to be reviewed, coordination among agencies and professionals involved, and improvement of the identification, data collection, and record-keeping of the causes of domestic violence fatalities.

            (5) Recommend systemic improvements to promote improved and integrated public and private systems serving victims of domestic abuse.

            (6) Recommend components for prevention and education programs.

            (7) Recommend training to improve the identification and investigation of domestic violence fatalities that occur in Louisiana.

            B. The review panel may do all of the following:

            (1) Establish local and regional panels to which the review panel may delegate some or all of its responsibilities under this Part.

            (2) Analyze data available through any state systems that may decrease the incidence of domestic abuse fatalities in this state.

            (3) Create formal partnerships with existing local and regional fatality review panels to accomplish its responsibilities under this Section.

            Acts 2021, No. 320, §2, See Act.