Article archive / April 1, 2014
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 8. Source pages: 4.
A bill that would create the La. Bullying Awareness and Treatment Task Force within the Dept. of Health and Hospitals was introduced Representative Norton. If approved the proposed law will be known and may be cited as the "La. Bullying Awareness and Treatment Act". Several positions would be filled by the mental health community members, from counseling and social work.
The purpose of proposed law is to develop a comprehensive, coordinated plan to address the mental health needs of youths who are victims of bullying as well as youths who are involved in bullying, and to provide needed guidance to carry out the goals the task force shall recommend.
The proposal creates a task force with these members or their designees: secretary of Department of Health and Hospitals, secretary of Department of Children and Family Services.
Also on the task force would be the executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers, president of the La. Counseling Association, president of the La. Association for Behavioral Health, president of the La. School Counselor Association, an education professional, parents, and members appointed by the legislature.
The proposal requires the task force to make a thorough study of the feasibility and practicality of providing counseling and other treatment services to youths who are victims of bullying as well as youths who are involved in bullying. The proposed law would authorizes the task force to render objective, fiscally feasible recom- mendations to the legislature for the implementation of policies that could be adopted by the state.
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