This bill enacts a new section, R.S. 17:173.1, which mandates that public schools in Louisiana provide mental health assessments to students in grades three through twelve at the beginning of each school year, contingent upon parental or guardian authorization. The assessments are to be conducted by licensed behavioral health providers and should ideally take place during the first semester of the school year. School principals or their designees are given the discretion to determine the timing and location for these assessments.

Additionally, the bill outlines the qualifications for licensed behavioral health providers and stipulates that public schools can access lists of these professionals through relevant licensing boards and the Louisiana Department of Health. The mental health assessments will be provided at no cost to local school boards, and schools are required to report the number of screenings conducted, categorized by grade level, to the state Department of Education at the end of each school year.