The bill enacts R.S. 17:416.24, which authorizes public schools in Louisiana 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 majority age or an emancipated minor. The Louisiana Department of Health will provide appropriate mental health screening tools at no cost to schools, and the results of these screenings will be kept confidential, only disclosed to the student's parent or guardian, or the student if they are of age. Additionally, schools cannot use screening results for decisions regarding student instruction or discipline, and there will be no legal liability for schools related to the screening outcomes.

Furthermore, the bill includes an amendment to R.S. 17:3996(B) to exempt charter schools from certain statutory mandates, specifically including the mental health screenings mandated by R.S. 17:416.24. This means that while public schools must comply with the mental health screening requirements, charter schools have the option to opt out of these mandates unless specified otherwise in their approved charters.