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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
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:416.25, relative to the creation of a pilot program to provide services to
3 students at certain schools; to provide relative to allocation of grants; to provide for
4 requirements of the state Department of Education and the State Board of
5 Elementary and Secondary Education; to provide for rulemaking; to provide for
6 definitions; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 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
10 A.(1) The state Department of Education shall establish and administer the
11 Resilient Youth and Trauma-Informed Schools Grant Pilot Program, referred to in
12 this Section as the "program".
13 (2) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall
14 promulgate rules for the program in accordance with the Administrative Procedure
15 Act including but not limited to an application process for eligible schools to
16 participate in the program and eligible expenses for which funds may be allocated.
17 B. For purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the following
18 meanings:
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
2 who receive free or reduced lunch is sixty percent or higher.
3 (3) "Resilience curricula" means programs for teaching emotional regulation,
4 goal-setting, and growth mind set.
5 (4) "Social-emotional learning curricula" means educational programs with
6 tools, resources, and guidance for teachers to help students develop social and
7 emotional knowledge, skills, and abilities.
8 (5) "Trauma-informed practices" means evidence-based approaches
9 recognizing impacts of trauma on learning.
10 C.(1) Through the program, the department shall issue grants to eligible
11 schools for any of the following purposes:
12 (a) Employing school counselors and social workers.
13 (b) Providing trauma-informed training to school administrators, teachers,
14 and school employees.
15 (c) Implementing resilience curricula, social-emotional learning curricula,
16 and trauma-informed practices.
17 (d) Establishing mentorship networks via student organizations at
18 universities and civic organizations in the community.
19 (e) Tracking outcomes of the program.
20 (2) Each participating school shall collaborate with a Louisiana university
21 to evaluate student attendance prior to and after starting the program, student
22 discipline, and mental health indicators and submit annual reports to the department
23 concerning such matters.
24 (3) The department shall annually submit a cumulative report to the
25 legislature regarding program activities, outcomes, and recommendations.
26 D. The implementation of this Section is subject to appropriation of funds
27 by the legislature for this purpose. The department and participating schools may
28 use donations for the purposes of implementing the program.
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HLS 26RS-306 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 572
1 Section 2. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Resilient Youth and
2 Trauma-Informed Schools Act".
3 Section 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.
6 Section 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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are additions.
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.