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HCR 27

EDUCATION/SPECIAL: Requests the Louisiana Department of Health and the state Department of Education to analyze the adequacy of autism support services in the state

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tehmi Chassion and 1 co-sponsor

Louisiana will study and report on the breadth, quality, and adequacy of autism support and diagnostic services across health and education, to inform improvements.

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.
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Bill Summary · HCR 27

Overview

HCR 27 (2026) is a Louisiana House Concurrent Resolution urging the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), in collaboration with the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, to develop and complete a comprehensive report evaluating the breadth, quality, and adequacy of autism support services in the state. The report must be submitted to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2027.

Purpose and Intent

  • Highlight the scope and impact of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Louisiana and the need for coordinated services across health, education, and community sectors.
  • Assess diagnostic practices to ensure accurate, timely, and equitable identification of ASD, which is the gateway to early intervention and services.
  • Align Louisiana’s practices with best available guidelines and national reporting on rising ASD prevalence and child health outcomes.

Key Provisions and What the Report Must Cover

  • Comprehensive analysis of current autism support services in Louisiana, focusing on:
    • Breadth (range of services and providers across sectors)
    • Quality (competence, reliability, adherence to standards)
    • Adequacy (sufficiency of services to meet demand)
  • Review of diagnostic tools and evaluation processes across provider types, including:
    • Pediatric primary care providers
    • Developmental-behavioral pediatricians
    • Child psychologists
    • Child psychiatrists
    • Pediatric neurologists
    • School psychologists
  • Evaluation of:
    • Standardization of tools and assessment protocols
    • Training requirements and inter-rater reliability
    • Adherence to evidence-based guidelines (e.g., American Academy of Pediatrics, DSM-5-TR)
    • Wait times for evaluations
    • Cultural and linguistic competency
    • Access barriers, consistency of application, diagnostic quality, and equity
  • Comparative analysis:
    • Louisiana’s practices vs. those in other states
  • Identification of gaps and issues, including:
    • System and service gaps
    • Service utilization trends
    • Reimbursement inadequacies
    • Workforce gaps
    • Clinical quality concerns (including diagnostic practices)
    • Fraud concerns
    • Other relevant factors as identified by LDH, LDOE, and the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Use and relevance of findings to inform ongoing state efforts to improve autism support services and outcomes.

Who Would Be Affected

  • State agencies: LDH and LDOE
  • Medical and health professionals involved in autism assessment and diagnosis (various provider types listed above)
  • Pediatric and school-based service providers, administrators, and policymakers
  • Louisiana families and children impacted by ASD through availability and quality of diagnostic and related services

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Collaboration among LDH, LDOE, and the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is required.
  • The legislature requires submission of the final report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2027.
  • The resolution references alignment with national initiatives like the Make America Healthy Again and the Make Our Children Healthy Again assessments, noting the federal emphasis on addressing rising ASD prevalence and improving outcomes.

Practical Implications

  • The report could identify gaps in diagnostic capacity, regional disparities, or reimbursement barriers that affect access to autism-related services.
  • Findings may inform future state policy, funding decisions, training programs, and potential reform of screening, referral pathways, and service delivery across health and education systems.
  • While non-binding, the resolution signals legislative interest in data-driven evaluation and improvement of autism support services in Louisiana.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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