Lawmakers press Louisiana child‑welfare secretary over data gaps, push for MOU and pilot tech

Members of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee pressed Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services leadership on data gaps, communication failures and a long history of failed technology while weighing near‑term legislative fixes.

The hearing followed an annual ombudsman report and commentary from the legislative auditor. Senator Barrow said the committee was "sick to death of looking at our numbers" and demanded more transparency and practical action. "We've got to have an open book on the numbers," a committee member said, urging the secretary to be forthcoming and to work with legislators and the ombudsman.

Legislative Auditor Mike Wagensbeck told the panel the Office of the Legislative Auditor will recommend broader reporting and improved technology. "We'll report every fatality no matter what the circumstances," Wagensbeck said, adding that DCFS technology has been "in flux and work in progress for 10, 15 years" and that the state has spent millions on systems that did not deliver.

Secretary Harris said her priority is child safety and described a move toward risk‑based screening of reports so investigations focus on higher‑risk cases. She told the committee that staff are reviewing the ombudsman report and that some bills contain "pretty incredible pieces" that could be helpful, but she asked for time to review legislation the committee offered.

Members and witnesses highlighted three practical fixes they say could reduce missed opportunities to protect children: a signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between DCFS and the ombudsman's office that clarifies what case identifiers and summary information will be shared; better matching of intake IDs and investigation IDs to avoid double counting; and piloting a technology platform used in other states that gives multi‑disciplinary teams shared access and notifications.

The ombudsman explained how notification law changes implemented in August 2025 altered reporting timelines and contributed to the confusion. The office said it now receives a 3‑day notice when an investigation is accepted and later receives a summary disposition; matching IDs between those notices is needed to prevent duplicate records.

Committee members pressed the department for precise numbers. The department said it investigated 53 fatalities in the prior year and that some counts (for substantiation) varied because reporting rules changed; at one point the department reported 28 substantiated cases, while other summaries cited 21 — discrepancies the data team is now reconciling. The ombudsman and staff agreed to provide clearer, matched identifiers so legislators and watchdog offices can reconcile counts.

Several senators urged closer coordination with law enforcement so officers can "put eyes on" children when a report suggests immediate danger. Senator Mizell cited an out‑of‑state model that posts preliminary fatality summaries online and said that kind of transparency — if permissible under federal privacy rules — could help communities and watchdogs follow cases more quickly.

Members also pressed the secretary and the auditor for information about a prior failed IT contract that was pulled mid‑development after tens of millions had been spent. Lawmakers asked whether the state pursued recovery from contractors and asked staff to report back on legal steps taken.

The committee agreed to reconvene and to try to negotiate a legislative path forward this week, including a meeting with the ombudsman, the legislative auditor and DCFS leadership to work through an MOU, data‑matching, procurement questions and the possibility of a limited pilot of technology used in other states. The hearing closed with a motion to adjourn.