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Committee hears testimony on behavioral‑health services bill (HB 352); stakeholders seek tighter IEP language
Summary
HB 352 would clarify and strengthen access to medically necessary behavioral‑health services (including ABA) in schools and require collaborative planning so services do not conflict with IEP/FAPE obligations; advocates supported it, while charter and district leaders asked for clearer federal‑compliance language. The author agreed to work with stakeholders and staff.
House Bill 352, sponsored by Rep. Mack, aims to ensure medically necessary behavioral‑health services can be delivered in school settings and to codify collaboration between providers, school districts and families. Testimony included parents, advocacy groups and nonprofit providers who said some districts have denied medically necessary services, while school leaders and charter representatives sought clearer language to ensure these programs do not conflict with federal IEP/FAPE obligations.
Advocates such as the Louisiana Coalition for Access to Autism Services and the Arc of Louisiana highlighted that ABA and other therapies must be allowed when medically necessary and delivered in ways that minimize classroom disruption. Charter leaders and superintendents asked for notice, local discretion and procedures to address student exceptionalities; several senators pressed the author to add clarifying amendments that explicitly state federal IEP precedence in the event of conflict. The author and committee staff agreed to work with the department and stakeholders on specific language.
The committee did not take final action in the transcript; members scheduled follow‑up meetings and asked staff to draft clarifying amendments to reconcile federal obligations with the bill—s goals.
