House Bill No. by Representative Marcelle mandates the Louisiana Department of Education to establish a program aimed at recruiting, hiring, and retaining qualified mental health professionals in public elementary and secondary schools. The bill specifically outlines that the program should include various mental health roles such as counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and other behavioral health specialists. Additionally, the Department is tasked with striving to achieve a target ratio of one mental health professional for every 250 students across all public schools in the state.

The implementation of this program is contingent upon the Louisiana Legislature providing a specific appropriation of funds. The new legal language introduced in this bill is encapsulated in the newly enacted R.S. 17:173.2, which outlines the objectives and requirements of the mental health recruitment and retention program.