Bill > HB218

This bill requires all city, parish, and local public school boards in Louisiana to implement programs for screening students in kindergarten through twelfth grade for food insecurity, which refers to a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. These screenings will be administered upon a student's initial enrollment and at least once per semester, and also when a student visits a school-based health clinic. If a screening indicates a student is at risk of food insecurity, standardized procedures will be followed, including contacting the family and referring them to community resources like school meal programs, food pantries, food banks, and social services. The results of these screenings will be kept confidential, only shared with parents or guardians, the student if they are an adult or emancipated, and authorized school personnel involved in referrals, and will not be used for decisions about instruction, academic opportunities, or discipline. The state Department of Education, in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health, will choose a free, age-appropriate screening tool and provide access information to school boards. Additionally, charter schools will be required to comply with these food insecurity screening program mandates, removing their previous exemption from this specific requirement.

Education

https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=26rs&b=HB218&sbi=y