HLS 12RS-2618 ORIGINAL
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 1194 (Substitute for House Bill No. 525 by Representative
Barrow)
BY REPRESENTATIVE BARROW
SCHOOLS/HIGH SCHOOL: Provides relative to the performance of community service
by high school students
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:264, relative to public high school graduation; to authorize the State Board2
of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop a diploma endorsement program3
for the performance of community service by high school students; to provide4
relative to rules, guidelines, and implementation; to provide for a report; and to5
provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 17:264 is hereby enacted to read as follows:8
ยง264. Community service; high school diploma endorsement program9
A.(1) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education may establish10
a "Distinction for Community Service" diploma endorsement program to recognize11
high school students who perform a certain number of hours of documented12
community service. The number of service hours required to earn a diploma13
endorsement shall be determined by the state board and shall accrue from the ninth14
grade through the twelfth grade.15
(2) Not later than March first of each year, provided that a diploma16
endorsement program as authorized in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection is17
implemented, the state board shall provide a written report to the House Committee18
on Education and the Senate Committee on Education, which shall contain, at a19
minimum, the following:20 HLS 12RS-2618 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1194
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
(a) The goals and objectives of the diploma endorsement program.1
(b) The number of community service endorsements awarded to students for2
the preceding school year.3
(c) The types of community service performed by students for the preceding4
school year.5
(d) The results and effectiveness of the program.6
B. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt7
necessary rules and guidelines for the proper implementation of any diploma8
endorsement program for community service developed pursuant to Paragraph9
(A)(1) of this Section, and each city, parish, and other local public school board shall10
provide for such community service in accordance with such rules and guidelines.11
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)]
Barrow HB No. 1194
Abstract: Authorizes the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop a
diploma endorsement program for community service performed by high school
students.
Proposed law authorizes the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to
establish a "Distinction for Community Service" diploma endorsement program for high
school students who perform community service. Requires BESE to determine the number
of service hours required to earn a diploma endorsement and provides that hours shall accrue
from the ninth through 12th grades. Requires BESE, if a program is implemented, to provide
a written report to the House and Senate committees on education by March first annually
containing, at minimum, the following:
(1) The goals and objectives of the diploma endorsement program.
(2) The number of community service endorsements awarded to students for the
immediate preceding school year.
(3) The types of community service performed by students for the immediate preceding
school year.
(4) The results and effectiveness of the program.
Proposed law requires BESE to adopt rules and guidelines for the implementation of the
program developed pursuant to proposed law and requires school boards to provide for such
community service in accordance with these rules and guidelines.
(Adds R.S. 17:264)