HLS 13RS-2403 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 133
BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHRODER
MENTAL HEALTH: Requests that the Dept. of Health and Hospitals, Dept. of Children
and Family Services, and State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education study
jointly the coordination of mental health and counseling resources for students
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals, the Department of Children2
and Family Services, and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education3
to study jointly the feasibility of coordinating state mental health and counseling4
resources for the purpose of providing supports to public school students and to5
submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the House Committee6
on Health and Welfare, the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, the House7
Committee on Education, and the Senate Committee on Education not later than8
sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2014 Regular Session of the Legislature of9
Louisiana.10
WHEREAS, it is the aim of the Department of Health and Hospitals to protect and11
promote health and to ensure access to medical preventative and rehabilitative services for12
all citizens; and13
WHEREAS, the vision of the Department of Children and Family Services includes14
keeping children safe and providing a safe refuge during disaster; and15
WHEREAS, as stated in the Constitution of Louisiana, it is the goal of the public16
education system to provide learning environments and experiences at all stages of human17
development that are humane, just, and designed to promote excellence in order that every18
individual may be afforded an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential; and19 HLS 13RS-2403 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 133
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WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Hospitals, the Department of Children1
and Family Services, and the state Department of Education have demonstrated the value of2
coordinating services across the state through the implementation of such programs as the3
Coordinated System of Care; and4
WHEREAS, each of these agencies has resources and programs designed to assist5
children, families, and communities in meeting mental health and counseling needs, yet each6
operates independently; and 7
WHEREAS, there is a great need for mental health and counseling services in public8
schools after accidents, acts of nature, and crisis situations; and 9
WHEREAS, coordination of available mental health and counseling services across10
state agencies to supplement school-based services could significantly increase supports11
available to Louisiana school children; and 12
WHEREAS, opportunities for aligning specific state mental health and counseling13
resources with the needs of public school students must be explored fully; and14
WHEREAS, in order to fulfill the state's constitutional duty of affording every15
student an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential, it is imperative that mental16
health and counseling resources available for public school students receive a thorough and17
collaborative evaluation so that determinations can be made as to how the state can best18
provide experiences and opportunities to students that help them succeed in all aspects of19
life.20
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby21
urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals, the Department of Children and22
Family Services, and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study23
jointly the feasibility of coordinating state mental health and counseling resources for the24
purpose of providing supports to public school students and to submit a written report of25
findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Health and Welfare, the Senate26
Committee on Health and Welfare, the House Committee on Education, and the Senate27
Committee on Education not later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2014 Regular28
Session of the Legislature of Louisiana. 29 HLS 13RS-2403 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 133
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such report shall include but not be limited to1
the following elements:2
(1) Identification of the resources that the Department of Health and Hospitals, the3
Department of Children and Family Services, and the state Department of Education offer4
across the state that could serve to meet the mental health and counseling needs of public5
school students.6
(2) Recommendations relative to opportunities for aligning available state mental7
health and counseling resources with student needs.8
(3) Recommendations, if any, relative to legislation necessary to remove obstacles9
currently preventing agency collaboration and the utilization of available resources to10
supplement the mental health and counseling supports being provided to public school11
students.12
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted13
to the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, the secretary of the Department14
of Children and Family Services, the president of the State Board of Elementary and15
Secondary Education, and the state superintendent of education.16
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Schroder HCR No. 133
Requests that the Dept. of Health and Hospitals, the Dept. of Children and Family Services,
and the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education study jointly the feasibility of
coordinating state mental health and counseling resources for the purpose of providing
supports to public school students and submit a written report of findings and
recommendations to the House and Senate health and welfare and education committees at
least 60 days before the 2014 R.S.