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HB 1249

HEALTH/SCHOOL CLINICS: Provides relative to school-based health center services provided to students (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Steven Jackson

HB 1249 creates a policy framework allowing public schools with SBHCs to provide medically necessary services, ensuring consent, privacy, and provider standards.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 1249

Summary of HB 1249 (2026) — Louisiana

Topic

School-based health center services provided to students.

Purpose and Intent

HB 1249 adds a framework to allow, and in some cases require, public schools to adopt policies that facilitate medically necessary health services for students through school-based health centers (SBHCs) or other provider arrangements on school campuses. The bill emphasizes student consent, provider qualifications, confidentiality, funding responsibility, and regulatory implementation. It does not require every public school to establish SBHCs, but it creates a policy framework and process for those schools that offer SBHC services.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Consent and Access (A(1))

    • If a parent/guardian or a student who is of age consents to medically necessary SBHC services, no school administrator or employee shall prohibit the student from accessing those services.

  • Policy Requirement for Public Schools (A(2))

    • Any public school with SBHC services must adopt and make public a policy to implement this section.
    • The policy must avoid creating barriers or delays to accessing medically necessary SBHC services.

  • Minimum Policy Elements (A(2)(a)-(f))

    • (a) Providers: Licensed, certified, or registered professionals who pass a criminal background check by the Louisiana State Police and are in good standing with their board shall not be required to undergo an additional school background check to provide SBHC services.
    • (b) Services during school hours when requested by the student’s parent/guardian and deemed medically necessary by the provider.
    • (c) Schools shall not bar health evaluations, assessments, or authorized treatment plans on school property to establish medical necessity; services may be delivered during any portion of the school day, including instructional time.
    • (d) Financial responsibility: Costs are the parent/guardian’s responsibility, or via the family’s health insurance, Medicaid, or other third-party payor; the public school governing authority is not responsible for payment.
    • (e) Privacy and information-sharing: SBHCs are not required to sign consent-to-release agreements; shared information must be nonclinical and limited to care coordination, student safety, or legal compliance, and remain subject to HIPAA and FERPA.
    • (f) Decision-maker for medical necessity: A licensed healthcare provider must determine the need for evaluation or treatment; non-licensed school staff cannot determine eligibility.

  • Protection of Rights (A(3))

    • If a school district does not adopt a policy, that does not bar SBHC services for a student.

  • Provider Standards (A(4))

    • SBHC services must be delivered by licensed, certified, or registered healthcare providers.

  • Definitions (B)

    • Clarifies terms such as “healthcare provider,” “medically necessary,” and “school-based health center services.”

  • Relation to Behavioral Health (C)

    • Nothing in HB 1249 interferes with access to behavioral health services under R.S. 17:173.

  • Regulatory Implementation (D)

    • The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in consultation with the Louisiana Department of Health (Bureau of Family Health), the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, and the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, must promulgate rules for implementation under the Administrative Procedure Act.

  • Related Provision (Section 3996(B)(24))

    • Adds SBHC services to a list of exemptions/requirements applicable to charter schools, ensuring consistency with SBHC policy framework.

Who Is Affected

  • Public school governing authorities and schools that offer or plan to offer SBHC services.
  • Licensed healthcare providers delivering SBHC services.
  • Students who access SBHC services and their parents/guardians.
  • State regulatory bodies (BESE, Louisiana Department of Health, Medical Examiners, Nursing Board) responsible for implementing rules.

Timelines and Procedures

  • BESE, in consultation with specified health and professional boards, must promulgate implementing rules under the Administrative Procedure Act. No specific dates are listed in the text provided, but rules are to be developed to implement the statute.

Notes

  • The bill does not mandate the creation of SBHCs; it sets policy, licensing, consent, confidentiality, and funding guidance for schools that provide SBHC services.

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

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