House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to enhance the privacy rights of postsecondary education students regarding their mental health information. The bill mandates that each public postsecondary education management board require institutions under its jurisdiction to provide students with a specific form. This form allows students to authorize the disclosure of otherwise protected health information to designated individuals in the event of a mental health crisis or if the student poses a risk to themselves or others.

The newly enacted R.S. 17:3138.1 outlines the necessary components of the authorization form, including sections for student identification, designated contacts, the scope of information to be shared, and the duration of the authorization. It emphasizes that while general information about the mental health crisis can be shared, specific diagnoses or treatment details will not be disclosed unless authorized or required by law. The bill also includes provisions for student acknowledgment of their rights regarding the authorization and the institution's responsibilities in safeguarding the disclosed information.