House Bill No. by Representative Mack aims to enhance behavioral health services for public school students in Louisiana. The bill amends existing law to require public school governing authorities to adopt and publicly post policies regarding the implementation of behavioral health services, ensuring these policies are included in student handbooks. It specifies that behavioral health services must be provided during school hours if a student's parent or legal guardian presents a necessary evaluation and treatment plan. Additionally, the bill mandates that supervision of behavior technicians by board-certified behavior analysts must occur in person, rather than virtually.

The bill also introduces new definitions for key terms related to behavioral health services, such as "board certified behavior analyst" and "behavior technician." It emphasizes that behavioral health services shall be provided in physical classrooms during instructional time, rather than merely authorized. Furthermore, it establishes that a parent or legal guardian is the only individual permitted to file a dispute resolution claim regarding a student's behavioral health services, which must be filed after an incident occurs. Overall, the bill seeks to ensure that students have access to necessary behavioral health support while maintaining compliance with educational standards.

Statutes affected:
HB352 Original: 17:173(A)(2)