HB 218

ENROLLED
 2026 Regular Session
  ACT No. 628
 HOUSE BILL NO. 218
 BY REPRESENTATIVES LAFLEUR, BOYD, BRASS, CARPENTER, CARVER,
  CHASSION, ECHOLS, EDMONSTON, FISHER, FREEMAN, FREIBERG,
  GREEN, DANA HENRY, JACKSON, MIKE JOHNSON, JORDAN, KNOX,
  TERRY LANDRY, LARVADAIN, LYONS, MARCELLE, MARTINEZ,
  MURRAY, TAYLOR, WALTERS, AND YOUNG
1AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:2113 and 3996(B)(24), relative to student questionnaires; to provide for the
3inclusion of questions pertaining to food insecurity on a residency questionnaire; to
4provide for the administration of the questionnaire; to provide for the confidentiality
5of responses; to provide for information on resources and services; to provide for
6applicability; to provide a limitation of liability; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8Section 1. R.S. 17:2113 and 3996(B)(24) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
9§2113. Food insecurity
10A.(1) The state Department of Education, in consultation with the Louisiana
11Department of Health, shall include questions pertaining to food insecurity on the
12residency questionnaire administered for purposes of the federal McKinney-Vento
13Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act.
14(2) Each public school shall annually distribute the questionnaire to each
15student in grades kindergarten through twelve upon enrollment, change of address,
16and reasonable suspicion of food insecurity by school personnel or school-based
17health clinics.
18B.(1) If the questionnaire responses indicate that a student is at risk for food
19insecurity, the school shall provide the parents or legal guardian information on
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 HB NO. 218  ENROLLED
1federal, state, community, and school resources and services that may be available,
2including but not limited to public assistance applications, social services,
3community food banks and food pantries, and school meal programs and food
4pantries. For any emancipated minor or student who has reached the age of majority,
5the school shall provide the information directly to the student.
6(2) The information on federal, state, and community resources shall be
7compiled by the Louisiana Department of Health, which shall provide the
8information to each school at no cost to the school or its school board.
9C. Responses to the questionnaire shall remain confidential except for
10disclosure to a student's parent or legal guardian or to the student if he has reached
11the age of majority or is an emancipated minor and to authorized school personnel
12responsible for the provision of information as provided in Subsection B of this
13Section.
14D. No school employee shall use questionnaire responses to make any
15decision relating to student instruction, academic opportunities, or discipline.
16E. No school board or employee thereof shall be liable for damages in a civil
17action for injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises from an act
18or omission associated with the provisions of this Section unless the act or omission
19constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.
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21§3996. Charter schools; exemptions; requirements
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23B. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and
24except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a
25charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this
26Chapter and its approved charter and the school's officers and employees shall be
27exempt from all statutory mandates or other statutory requirements that are
28applicable to public schools and to public school officers and employees except for
29the following laws otherwise applicable to public schools with the same grades:
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HB NO. 218  ENROLLED
1(24) Food insecurity questions on residency questionnaire, R.S. 17:2113.
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  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
  GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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