Policy committee updates policies to reflect Louisiana statutes; mental-health screenings draw implementation questions

The policy committee of the Beauregard Parish School Board met Sept. 8 and approved revisions to multiple board policies to conform with statutes enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.

What the committee approved Committee members moved to delete a training-related section from policy JCDAF (bullying and hazing) in response to state changes; the committee approved the revision and waived the waiting period where required.

The committee revised policy JDB (expulsion) to reflect a state change that shortens mandatory expulsions for certain firearms, knives and controlled-substance incidents from four semesters to two semesters for students in grades 6–12. The presenter noted an exception in statute that allows discretionary recommendations for expulsion in some first-occurrence cases involving marijuana/THC; the committee approved the policy amendment.

The committee revised policy JGCE (child-abuse reporting) to update school resource officer (SRO) procedures. New statutory language requires that if a school resource officer suspects child abuse or neglect—or if a mandatory reporter reports abuse to the SRO—the officer must immediately notify the officer’s employing law enforcement agency or the Department of Children and Family Services and the employer must assign investigation responsibility to the most appropriate law-enforcement officer. The committee approved the revision.

Behavioral health support (Act 504) and mental-health assessments The committee also added language to JGCF to implement Act 504 (effective Aug. 1, 2025), which requires that each public school make available to students in grades 3–12 a mental-health assessment by a licensed behavioral-health provider if a parent or legal guardian authorizes it. The presenter summarized the statute and the added policy language: the assessment provision is described as "at no cost to the school board" in the statute language presented to the committee. Committee members discussed practical implementation questions, including: - How the district will identify and contract with licensed providers (vendor list), - Whether the district must pay for screenings or whether third parties or the state will provide them, - How parental consent and notice will be documented and distributed (the presenter described using a mailed or envelope notice and follow-up messaging), - Whether the district must submit annual counts of screenings to the Louisiana Department of Education (the presenter said the act requires reporting), and - The committee noted that the requirement applies to grades 3–12 with parent authorization, but that screenings tied to threats of violence or certain safety incidents remain mandatory per existing procedures.

Committee direction and concerns Committee members approved the policy revisions in committee but asked legal and administrative staff to provide clearer guidance on vendor selection, reimbursement or payment paths, and the district’s obligations to report screening counts to the state. Committee members expressed concern about broadly promoting a free screening program before the district understands how services will be funded.

Next steps Policy and legal staff were directed to finalize revised policy wording, prepare parent notices consistent with state requirements, and return implementation guidance and cost information to the board for full adoption and operational planning.

Quote Committee presenter: "The assessment shall be provided... at no cost to the school board," summarizing the statutory language requiring availability of mental-health assessments by licensed providers.