The bill enacts new provisions in Louisiana law regarding mental health screenings in public schools, specifically R.S. 17:416.24 and R.S. 17:3996(B)(89). It authorizes local public school boards to offer annual mental health screenings for students in grades K-12 during the first semester of the school year. Schools are required to notify parents or legal guardians about the screenings and obtain written consent before conducting them, unless the student is of age or an emancipated minor. The Louisiana Department of Health is tasked with selecting appropriate screening tools and providing them at no cost to schools. Additionally, the results of the screenings are to be kept confidential and destroyed within thirty days of notifying the relevant parties.

Furthermore, the bill specifies that the results of the screenings cannot be used to influence decisions regarding student instruction, academic opportunities, or discipline. It also protects school authorities and employees from legal action related to the screening results. The new mental health screening provisions are exempt from the general statutory mandates applicable to charter schools, as indicated by the insertion of R.S. 17:3996(B)(89).