Committee reports HB 902 to develop trauma-informed training for educators

The House Health and Welfare Committee voted to report House Bill 902 by Rep. Brett Marcel, which directs the Louisiana Department of Health to develop a state-approved trauma-informed training program and curriculum for educators and other recipients. The bill passed with two technical amendment sets adopted by the committee.

Marcel said the bill follows a task force that identified adverse childhood experiences and uneven training quality for educators; Alma Stewart Allen (Louisiana Center for Health Equity) described gaps in existing online trainings and urged a standard, evidence-based curriculum tied to best practices. Committee members questioned whether funding had been identified and whether training would be in-person or online; Marcel and supporters said many components already exist online and that the bill seeks to standardize and make available better in-person options where feasible.

Representative Jackson and others urged consultation with the Louisiana Department of Education and the appropriations chair on funding; proponents said the program could be implemented with limited new spending by using existing conferences and training venues and by coordinating across agencies. The committee reported HB 902 favorably with amendments and asked the author to continue working with relevant agencies on implementation details and potential budget language.