RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 696 (HB 766) 2018 Regular Session Pierre
New law prohibits a public school governing authority from denying student access to
behavioral health service providers at school during school hours if requested by the student's
parent or legal guardian. Requires such governing authorities to adopt policies to implement
new law that include requirements for providers relative to liability insurance coverage,
criminal background checks, compliance with students' specific education, behavior, or
health plans, and reporting students' progress. Further requires that such policies include:
(1)Behavioral health services shall be provided during school hours if the student's
behavioral health evaluation indicates that the services are necessary.
(2)Such services may be provided during instructional time in English, reading,
mathematics, and science if the governing authority and the provider agree that it is
in the best interest of the student.
(3)The student's parent or legal guardian is responsible for payment of the cost of all
behavioral health services provided to the student.
(4)Public school governing authorities may establish sanctions against a behavioral
health provider for failure to comply with the policies, including termination of a
provider's authorization to provide services on any school campus.
Effective August 1, 2018.
(Adds R.S. 17:173 and 3996(B)(45))