HB 572 creates Louisiana's Resilient Youth and Trauma-Informed Schools Grant Pilot Program to support public schools with 60% or more students eligible for free/reduced lunch. The program provides grants for schools to hire counselors/social workers, train staff in trauma-informed practices, implement social-emotional learning curricula, and establish community mentorship networks. Participating schools must collaborate with Louisiana universities to track attendance, discipline, and mental health outcomes, reporting annually to the Department of Education. The program requires legislative funding and will generate annual reports for the legislature on results and recommendations. This pilot aims to improve student well-being through evidence-based school-based support services.
HB 352 requires Louisiana public school districts to create and publish policies enabling behavioral health services for students during school hours. It allows services in classrooms during instructional time (including core subjects) if parents provide a provider-approved evaluation and treatment plan showing medical necessity, with in-person supervision by certified behavior analysts required. The bill defines key terms like "medically necessary services" and mandates that schools collaborate with providers to schedule services without disrupting school operations or testing. It directly affects public school students needing behavioral health support, their parents, school administrators, and behavioral health providers.
HB 684 creates a pre-arrest diversion program for Louisiana juveniles (under 18) charged with their first nonviolent misdemeanor offense. Instead of arresting them, police must offer a civil citation allowing access to mental health services, victim restitution, or family support programs within 90 days. The program prohibits fines, fees, or criminal records for participants and requires law enforcement to report annual data on juvenile stops, program completion, and recidivism. It applies only to non-dangerous situations without weapons or immediate threats. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with implementation rules due by December 2026.
HB 392 requires all Louisiana public and nonpublic secondary schools to post suicide prevention hotline information on their websites and print it on student ID cards. Specifically, schools must display the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number "988" (with instructions to call or text) and, if available, local and state suicide prevention hotline numbers. This bill updates existing requirements by broadening the scope to all secondary schools and standardizing the required information. The policy directly affects schools and students by ensuring immediate access to crisis resources through everyday school materials.
SB 314 allows certified social workers in Louisiana who have provided community psychiatric support and treatment (CPST) services for three years to extend their certification for that specific role. It applies to workers who meet all master's-level social work licensure requirements except for one specific provision (R.S. 37:2707(A)(3)), enabling them to petition for an extension to continue CPST work. The bill specifically includes a provision to renew certifications that expired in 2025, allowing affected workers to apply for the extension. This is a procedural change to certification rules, not a new service or funding measure.
HB 626 requires Louisiana's public colleges and universities to post suicide hotline numbers (including 988) on their websites and on student ID cards. It mandates that institutions provide all new students with information about mental health services and suicide warning signs through interactive formats (like online modules), and ensure 24/7 access to trained mental health professionals via campus or remote support. The bill also requires institutions to collect and report anonymous, aggregated data on suicide risk assessments - including demographics and referrals - to mental health services. These provisions directly affect all public postsecondary institutions in Louisiana, aiming to improve student mental health resources and data tracking.
HB 211 creates Louisiana's "Homelessness Court Program," establishing specialized court divisions to address homelessness through treatment and support instead of incarceration. It directly affects individuals experiencing homelessness charged with misdemeanors or felonies related to public camping or survival needs, requiring courts to screen eligible defendants for the program. Key provisions include mandatory substance abuse and mental health treatment, housing/job assistance partnerships, and a new criminal penalty for "unauthorized camping on public property" (with exceptions for shelter access). The program aims to reduce recidivism, court workloads, and prison overcrowding by integrating health care, housing, and rehabilitation services under judicial supervision.
HB 656 establishes a pilot program to provide structured programming to specific inmates in Louisiana. It directly affects juvenile offenders and inmates held in parish jails or prisons under the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C). The program must include rehabilitation services (education/vocational training), mental health support, and suicide prevention initiatives. Programming will be delivered in-person or via video for accessibility, with DPS&C required to create implementing rules. This bill focuses on expanding access to support services within correctional facilities.
HB 395 requires Louisiana's Department of Education to create a program recruiting, hiring, and retaining mental health professionals - including counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and behavioral health specialists - in public elementary and secondary schools. The bill mandates the department to aim for a ratio of one mental health professional per 250 students across all public schools. Implementation depends on future legislative funding, as Section 2 states the program becomes effective only after a specific appropriation is approved. This directly affects Louisiana's public schools and their ability to support student mental health needs through staff expansion.
SB 43 establishes Louisiana's Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Program within the Department of Health to fund clinical studies using psychedelic medications (like psilocybin) for treating opioid use disorders, co-occurring substance use disorders, and treatment-resistant mental health conditions. The program requires academic health centers to meet strict federal and state compliance standards - including FDA approval, safety protocols, and therapist qualifications - to conduct these studies. Eligible patients, including those with the specified conditions, may participate, and parishes can use opioid settlement funds to enroll residents. The bill mandates annual progress reports from participating centers and requires coordination with other states conducting similar research. This is a research-focused program, not a policy allowing general therapeutic use.
