Provides relative to behavioral health services for public school students

HB 352 Original 2026 Regular Session Mack

Abstract: Provides relative to behavioral health services for public school students.

Present law prohibits a public school governing authority from denying a student access to medically necessary behavioral health services at school during school hours if requested by the student's parent or legal guardian. Proposed law retains present law.

Present law requires such governing authorities to adopt and make available to the public policies for the implementation of present law. Proposed law retains present law and further requires each public school governing authority to post its policy on its website and include it in its student handbook.

Present law requires that such policies include that behavioral health services shall be permitted during school hours if the student's guardian presents a behavioral health evaluation performed by an evaluator as well as an assessment and authorized treatment plan performed by a behavioral health provider chosen by the guardian and the evaluation indicates that the services are necessary during school hours to assist the student with behavioral health impairments associated with a medical diagnosis that the evaluator determines are interfering with the student's ability to thrive in the educational setting. Proposed law retains present law. Proposed law requires a board certified behavior analyst to supervise a behavior technician providing such services. Further requires such supervision to be in-person and not virtual.

Present law requires each public school governing authority policy to authorize behavioral health services to be provided during any part of the school day, including any and all instructional time in English, reading, mathematics, and science. Proposed law requires, instead of authorizes, such services to be provided at such times and further specifies they be provided in a physical classroom.

(Amends R.S. 17:173(A)(2)(intro. para.),(c), (e), and (h), (B)(6)-(8), and (D); Adds R.S. 17:173(B)(9) and (10))