Louisiana 2016 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HB1144 Latest Draft

Bill / Engrossed Version

                            HLS 16RS-2861	ENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1144    (Substitute for House Bill No. 302 by Representative Leger)
BY REPRESENTATIVES LEGER, BOUIE, BROADWATER, STEVE CARTER, AND
HALL
HEALTH/CHILDREN:  Requires public school students entering kindergarten and sixth
grade to provide documentation of completion of a wellness evaluation
1	AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:173 and 3996(B)(4), relative to student health evaluations; to require public
3 school students entering kindergarten and grade six to provide documentation of a
4 wellness evaluation; to provide requirements for such evaluations; to provide for
5 exceptions; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1.  R.S. 17:173 and 3996(B)(4) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §173.  Wellness evaluations; documentation required for certain public school
9	students; exceptions
10	A.  Except as provided in Subsection C of this Section, each student entering
11 kindergarten or grade six in any public school shall provide satisfactory evidence of
12 completion of a wellness evaluation.  The wellness evaluation shall:
13	(1)  Be conducted by a person licensed or certified in Louisiana to provide
14 healthcare services as a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.
15	(2)  Be completed in accordance with the health guidelines for preventative
16 care screenings and well-child visits established by the American Academy of
17 Pediatrics.
18	(3)  Be completed within twelve months prior to entering kindergarten or
19 grade six, as applicable.
20	B.  The principal of the public school shall be responsible for verifying
21 receipt of the documentation required by Subsection A of this Section.
Page 1 of 3
CODING:  Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-2861	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 1144
1	C.  A student shall not be required to comply with the provisions of
2 Subsection A of this Section if the student or his parent or legal guardian submits a
3 written dissent to the principal.
4	D.  Nothing in this Section shall be construed or implemented to require that
5 a student or his parent or legal guardian provide any medical record or other
6 information to the school other than the documentation required by Subsection A of
7 this Section.
8	*          *          *
9 §3996.  Charter schools; exemptions; requirements
10	*          *          *
11	B.  Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and
12 except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a
13 charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this
14 Chapter and its approved charter and the school's officers and employees shall be
15 exempt from all statutory mandates or other statutory requirements that are
16 applicable to public schools and to public school officers and employees except for
17 the following laws otherwise applicable to public schools with the same grades:
18	*          *          *
19	(4)  Wellness evaluations, R.S. 17:173.
20	*          *          *
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)]
HB 1144 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session	Leger
Abstract: Requires public school students entering kindergarten and grade six to provide
documentation of a wellness evaluation.  Provides for exceptions.
Proposed law requires each student entering kindergarten or grade six in any public school,
including charter schools, to provide satisfactory evidence of a wellness evaluation that
meets the following requirements:
(1)Is conducted by a person licensed or certified in La. to provide healthcare services
as a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.
Page 2 of 3
CODING:  Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-2861	ENGROSSED
HB NO. 1144
(2)Is completed in accordance with the health guidelines for preventative care
screenings and well-child visits established by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
(3)Is completed within 12 months prior to school entry.
Requires the principal of the public school to verify receipt of the evidence of completion
of the wellness evaluation.  Provides that a student is not required to submit such evidence
if he or his parent or legal guardian submits a written dissent.  Further provides that proposed
law shall not be construed or implemented to require that a student or his parent or legal
guardian provide any medical record or other information to the school other than the
documentation required by proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 17:173 and 3996(B)(4))
Page 3 of 3
CODING:  Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.