HB 572

HLS 26RS-306  ORIGINAL
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE BILL NO. 572
 BY REPRESENTATIVE MENA
 SCHOOLS: Creates the Resilient Youth and Trauma-Informed Schools Grant Pilot
  Program
1AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:416.25, relative to the creation of a pilot program to provide services to
3students at certain schools; to provide relative to allocation of grants; to provide for
4requirements of the state Department of Education and the State Board of
5Elementary and Secondary Education; to provide for rulemaking; to provide for
6definitions; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8Section 1. R.S. 17:416.25 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9§416.25. Resilient Youth and Trauma-Informed Schools Grant Pilot Program
10A.(1) The state Department of Education shall establish and administer the
11Resilient Youth and Trauma-Informed Schools Grant Pilot Program, referred to in
12this Section as the "program".
13(2)   The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall
14promulgate rules for the program in accordance with the Administrative Procedure
15Act including but not limited to an application process for eligible schools to
16participate in the program and eligible expenses for which funds may be allocated.
17B. For purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the following
18meanings:
19(1) "Department" means the state Department of Education.
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 HLS 26RS-306  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 572
1(2) "Eligible school" means a public school where the percentage of students
2who receive free or reduced lunch is sixty percent or higher.
3(3) "Resilience curricula" means programs for teaching emotional regulation,
4goal-setting, and growth mind set.
5(4) "Social-emotional learning curricula" means educational programs with
6tools, resources, and guidance for teachers to help students develop social and
7emotional knowledge, skills, and abilities.
8(5)    "Trauma-informed practices" means evidence-based approaches
9recognizing impacts of trauma on learning.
10C.(1) Through the program, the department shall issue grants to eligible
11schools for any of the following purposes:
12(a) Employing school counselors and social workers.
13(b) Providing trauma-informed training to school administrators, teachers,
14and school employees.
15(c) Implementing resilience curricula, social-emotional learning curricula,
16and trauma-informed practices.
17(d)    Establishing mentorship networks via student organizations at
18universities and civic organizations in the community.
19(e) Tracking outcomes of the program.
20(2) Each participating school shall collaborate with a Louisiana university
21to evaluate student attendance prior to and after starting the program, student
22discipline, and mental health indicators and submit annual reports to the department
23concerning such matters.
24(3) The department shall annually submit a cumulative report to the
25legislature regarding program activities, outcomes, and recommendations.
26D. The implementation of this Section is subject to appropriation of funds
27by the legislature for this purpose. The department and participating schools may
28use donations for the purposes of implementing the program.
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 HLS 26RS-306  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 572
1Section 2. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Resilient Youth and
2 Trauma-Informed Schools Act".
3Section 3. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall promulgate
4 rules as provided in Section 1 of this Act prior to the beginning of the fall 2028 academic
5 semester.
6Section 4. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
7 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
8 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
9 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
10 effective on the day following such approval.
  DIGEST
 The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
 of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
 part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
 HB 572 Original  2026 Regular Session  Mena
 Abstract: Creates a pilot program for the purpose of providing services to students at
  certain schools.
 Proposed law requires the state Dept. of Education (DOE) to establish and administer the
 Resilient Youth and Trauma-Informed Schools Grant Pilot Program for public schools where
 the percentage of students who receive free or reduced lunch is 60% or higher. Requires the
 State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education to promulgate rules necessary for the
 implementation and administration of such program prior to the beginning of the fall 2028
 academic semester.
 Proposed law requires DOE to issue grants through the program to eligible schools for any
 of the following purposes:
 (1)    Employing school counselors and social workers.
 (2)    Providing trauma-informed training to school administrators, teachers, and school
  employees.
 (3)    Implementing social-emotional learning curricula, trauma-informed practices, and
  resilience curricula.
 (4)    Establishing mentorship networks via student organizations at universities and civic
  organizations in the community.
 (5)    Tracking outcomes of the program.
 Proposed law is subject to appropriation of funds by the legislature. Provides that the dept.
 and participating schools may use donations for the purposes of implementing the program.
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HLS 26RS-306  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 572
Effective upon signature by the governor.
(Adds R.S. 17:416.25)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.