ENROLLED
ACT No. 318
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 353
BY REPRESENTATIVES MARCELLE AND KNOX
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:226(A)(1), 271.1(B)(2), 282.4(C)(1)(d) and (F), and 404(A)
3 and to enact R.S. 17:271.1(B)(5) and 437.2(F) and R.S. 40:31.3(B)(6), relative to
4 student behavioral and mental health; to provide relative to exemptions from
5 compulsory attendance requirements for behavioral and mental health reasons; to
6 provide relative to required instruction on mental health; to provide relative to
7 programs on suicide prevention and substance abuse prevention; to require the state
8 Department of Education to develop and administer a pilot program for
9 implementing certain screenings; to require the registration of school health centers
10 with the office of public health; and to provide for related matters.
11 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
12 Section 1. R.S. 17:226(A)(1), 271.1(B)(2), 282.4(C)(1)(d) and (F), and 404(A) are
13 hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 17:271.1(B)(5) and 437.2(F) are hereby enacted to
14 read as follows:
15 §226. Exemptions from compulsory attendance
16 A. The following classes of children provided for in this Section shall be
17 exempted from the provisions of this Subpart:
18 (1)(a) Children mentally, physically, or emotionally incapacitated to perform
19 school duties, and children unable to profit from further school experience, such
20 exemptions to be certified in writing by a psychiatrist, psychologist, recognized
21 evaluation center or clinic, or other professionally qualified person or agency
22 designated by the city, parish, or other local public school board.
Page 1 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 353 ENROLLED
1 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph,
2 a student may be absent for up to three days in any school year related to the
3 student's mental or behavioral health, and such absences shall be excused if
4 certification is provided in writing in accordance with the student handbook. The
5 student shall be given the opportunity to make up any school work missed during
6 such absences. Following the second day of absence in any school year, the student
7 shall be referred to the appropriate school support personnel for help addressing the
8 underlying issue, which may include referral to medical services outside of the
9 school setting.
10 * * *
11 §271.1. Mental health; required instruction
12 * * *
13 B. The instruction shall include, at minimum, information on the following:
14 * * *
15 (2) The relationship and the difference between mental health and physical
16 health.
17 * * *
18 (5) The management of stress and anxiety.
19 * * *
20 §282.4. Youth suicide prevention programs; student safety and violence and social
21 isolation prevention training; policies; intent; rules; services; funding
22 * * *
23 C. Any city, parish, or other local public school system offering a youth
24 suicide prevention program established pursuant to this Section shall do so in
25 accordance with such rules and regulations adopted by the state board and shall
26 report its participation to the state Department of Education. The department shall
27 designate such a school as a Suicide Prevention Certified School and maintain an
28 updated list of such schools on its website. A youth suicide prevention program may
29 include but shall not be limited to the following:
Page 2 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 353 ENROLLED
1 (1) Classroom instruction, via in-person, video, or a combination of in-
2 person and video training, integrated into the curricula designed to achieve any of the
3 following objectives:
4 * * *
5 (d) Inform students of the available community youth suicide prevention
6 services and post information about these services on the school system's website.
7 * * *
8 F.(1) Beginning not later than the 2020-2021 school year, the governing
9 authority of each Each public and approved nonpublic secondary school that issues
10 student identification cards shall post on its website have printed on the cards the
11 following information:
12 (1) (a) The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline hotline number.
13 (2) (b) A local suicide prevention hotline number, if available.
14 (2) The governing authority of each public and approved nonpublic
15 secondary school that issues student identification cards shall have printed on the
16 cards the information provided in Subparagraphs (1)(a) and (b) of this Subsection.
17 * * *
18 §404. Establishment of programs of substance abuse
19 A. Each city and parish school board shall establish and maintain in every
20 school such grade appropriate programs of alcohol, drug, and substance abuse
21 prevention, education, information, and counseling as are developed by the section
22 on drug free schools and communities, and approved by the State Board of
23 Elementary and Secondary Education for inclusion in the school program as required
24 in Subsection B of this Section. The programs shall include providing the website
25 and phone number of at least one national organization specializing in substance
26 abuse for adolescents. Each school board shall also post this contact information on
27 its website.
28 * * *
Page 3 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 353 ENROLLED
1 §437.2. Adverse childhood experience education; in-service training; pilot program
2 * * *
3 F.(1) The state Department of Education shall develop and administer a pilot
4 program for the purpose of trauma-informed mental health screening for students and
5 mental health and behavioral issues and providing related services with respect to
6 mental and behavioral health.
7 (2) The department shall select three school systems to participate in the
8 pilot program.
9 (3) In developing and administering the program, the department shall
10 consult with experts in the fields of mental health, behavioral health, and trauma-
11 informed restorative services.
12 Section 2. R.S. 40:31.3(B)(6) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §31.3. Adolescent school health initiative; health centers in schools
14 * * *
15 B. The office of public health shall:
16 * * *
17 (6) Require that centers be registered with the office of public health.
18 * * *
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 4 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.