HLS 12RS-1155 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. 525
BY REPRESENTATIVE BARROW
SCHOOLS/HIGH SCHOOL: Requires public high school students to perform community
service as a prerequisite for graduation
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:264 and 3996(B)(30), relative to public high school graduation2
requirements; to require students to perform community service hours as a3
prerequisite for graduation; to provide relative to rules, guidelines, and4
implementation; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 17:264 and 3996(B)(30) are hereby enacted to read as follows:7
§264. Community service; required hours8
A. Each public high school student shall perform community service as a9
prerequisite for graduation, as follows:10
(1) Students graduating in the 2012-2013 school year shall complete ten11
hours of community service.12
(2) Students graduating in the 2013-2014 school year shall complete twenty13
hours of community service.14
(3) Students graduating in the 2014-2015 school year shall complete thirty15
hours of community service.16
(4) Students graduating in the 2015-2016 school year and thereafter shall17
complete forty hours of community service.18
B. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt19
necessary rules and guidelines for the proper implementation of this Section, and20 HLS 12RS-1155 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 525
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
each city, parish, and other local public school board shall provide for such1
community service in accordance with such rules and guidelines.2
* * *3
§3996. Charter schools; exemptions; requirements4
* * *5
B. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and6
except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a7
charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this8
Chapter and its approved charter and the school's officers and employees shall be9
exempt from all statutory mandates or other statutory requirements that are10
applicable to public schools and to public school officers and employees except for11
the following laws otherwise applicable to public schools with the same grades:12
* * *13
(30) Community service requirements for students, R.S. 17:264.14
* * *15
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. 525
Abstract: Requires high school students to perform community service prior to graduation.
Proposed law requires high school students to perform community service as a prerequisite
for graduation and provides for the following requirements relative to students graduating
in certain school years:
(1) 2012-13: 10 hours.
(2) 2013-14: 20 hours.
(3) 2014-15: 30 hours.
(4) 2015-16 and thereafter: 40 hours.
Proposed law requires BESE to adopt rules and guidelines for implementation and requires
school boards to provide for such community service in accordance with these rules and
guidelines.
(Adds 17:264 and 3996(B)(30))