§416.23. Behavioral or emotional challenges; referral for assessment and treatment; reporting

            A. Except as provided in R.S. 17:173, not later than thirty days prior to the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, each city, parish, or other local public school board shall adopt rules and regulations and implement a program to:

            (1) Assist school personnel in identifying signs and symptoms of a student with behavioral or emotional challenges that may cause the student to be at risk of their behavior escalating into aggression or disruption, disciplinary actions including suspension or expulsion, or juvenile delinquency.

            (2) Designate a specific employee at each school who shall be responsible for identifying behavioral and mental health support services available in the community, and when appropriate, facilitating a referral to those services for assessment and treatment, including services provided through the Louisiana Coordinated System of Care and its Medicaid provider network.

            (3)(a) Require that after any second suspension of a student during the same school year, the principal or his designee and the employee designated pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection shall consult on whether the student's behavior could be attributable to behavioral or emotional challenges.

            (b) Require that if it is determined that the behavior is attributable to behavioral or emotional challenges and rises to the level that supportive services could be beneficial, the principal or his designee and the employee designated pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection shall schedule a conference with the student's parent or legal guardian to discuss the student's behavior and counseling as well as the referral of the student and family to support services for assessment and treatment.

            B. A city, parish, or other local public school board shall report to the state Department of Education and the House and Senate committees on education the number of students identified as possibly having behavioral or emotional challenges, the number of students for which a conference was scheduled, and the number of students referred for assessment and supportive services pursuant to this Section. The reports shall be submitted annually on July first and shall reflect data from the previous school year. The reports may be used to evaluate needs and capacity for behavioral health services throughout the state.

            Acts 2024, No. 324, §1.