HEALTH: Requires public schools to offer a mental health assessment to certain students (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

Screening eligibility was changed from students in grades three through twelve to students in grades four through twelve.

The requirement for parents to annually re-authorize the screening for each student was removed, allowing the opportunity to be offered once per school year.

The mandate for public schools to report the number of screenings administered to the state Department of Education was eliminated.

The specific instruction to offer screenings during the first semester was replaced with a broader requirement to offer them within the first ninety days of the school year.

The definition of 'licensed behavioral health provider' was expanded to include individuals licensed by occupational licensing boards, removing the exclusive reliance on a Department of Health list.

The entity responsible for receiving annual screening reports changed from the Department of Health to the State Department of Education.

Schools are now permitted to locate lists of qualified providers by contacting licensing boards or visiting the Department of Health website, rather than relying solely on a list provided by the Department.

The list of bill sponsors was updated to include Senator Barrow and remove the House digest and amendment history sections.

Parental consent for mental health assessments must now be obtained annually rather than for the entire school year.

Public schools must now annually report the number of screenings administered by grade level to the Louisiana Department of Health.

Managed care organizations are required to provide a list of licensed individual providers authorized to conduct mental health assessments to the Department of Health.

The mandatory window for assessments changed from the first 90 days of the school year to any time during the year, with a preference for the first semester.

The definition of 'licensed behavioral health provider' now explicitly includes providers listed by managed care organizations.