HLS 13RS-282 ORIGINAL
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are additions.
Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE BILL NO. 415
BY REPRESENTATIVES ORTEGO AND ST. GERMAIN
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
TRANSPORTATION: Requires the Dept. of Transportation and Development to adopt a
supplement to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices to provide for the
usage of certain guide signs
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 32:235(A)(1) and to enact R.S. 25:651(C)(7) and R.S.2
32:235(A)(3), relative to guide signs; to require the Department of Transportation3
and Development to adopt a supplement to the manual and specifications for a4
uniform system of traffic control devices that provides for certain guide signs; to5
require the Department of Transportation and Development to test certain guide6
signs; to provide for an advisory authority; and to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 25:651(C)(7) is hereby enacted to read as follows:9
§651. Creation; domicile; purposes10
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C. The purposes of the council shall include the following:12
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(7) To advise the Department of Transportation and Development of the14
proper usage of Louisiana French on guide signs.15
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Section 2. R.S. 32:235(A)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.17
32:235(A)(3) is hereby enacted to read as follows:18 HLS 13RS-282 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 415
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§235. Uniform highway marking system1
A.(1) The department shall adopt a manual and specifications for a uniform2
system of traffic control devices consistent with the provisions of this Chapter for3
use upon highways within this state. Such uniform system shall correlate with and4
so far as possible conform to the system then current as approved by the United5
States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, except that6
the department shall adopt a supplement to the manual, subject to approval by the7
United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, which8
requires the utilization of symbols only where practical and terms in both Louisiana9
French and English languages in all other instances on all new and replacement10
guide signs erected along state and federal highways. The supplement shall also11
require dominant language terms to appear at the top of the guide sign and minority12
language terms to appear at the bottom of the guide sign, with all terms appearing13
in the same size font. The Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, R.S.14
25:651 et seq., shall advise the department in the proper usage of Louisiana French15
on guide signs. provided that the Furthermore, the department is authorized to16
deviate from said system and to erect advisory signs only to post advisory weight17
limits on state bridges where a state bridge is scheduled for replacement or18
strengthening within three years from the date of approval by the chief engineer of19
the department's weight rating evaluation of any state bridge. In addition, the20
department may deviate from the criteria contained in said system for location of21
traffic signals to the extent that additional weighted consideration shall be given to22
pedestrian and vehicular traffic volumes associated with schools which are located23
on state highways.24
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(3) Prior to submitting the supplement required by Paragraph (1) of this26
Subsection for approval by the United States Department of Transportation and27
Development, Federal Highway Administration, and with the concurrence or28
permission of same, the department shall test guide signs that utilize symbols and29 HLS 13RS-282 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 415
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are additions.
guide signs that utilize terms in both Louisiana French and English in the parishes1
listed in R.S. 25:651(C)(5) to determine their usefulness in successfully and2
consistently guiding the public. The Council for the Development of French in3
Louisiana, R.S. 25:651 et seq., shall advise the department in the proper usage of4
Louisiana French on guide signs throughout the testing period.5
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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)]
Ortego HB No. 415
Abstract: Requires the Dept. of Transportation and Development to adopt a supplement to
the manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic control devices which
requires symbol dominant or bilingual guide signs along state and federal highway
routes. Provides that the Council for the Development of French in La. to act as an
advisory authority to the department.
Present law requires the Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to adopt a
manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic control devices consistent for use
upon highways within this state. Such uniform system is required to correlate with and so
far as possible conform to the system then current as approved by the U.S. Dept. of
Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.
Proposed law requires DOTD to adopt a supplement to the manual required by present law,
subject to approval by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration,
which shall require that all new and replacement guide signs erected along state and federal
highways utilize symbols where practical and the La. French and English languages in all
other instances. The supplement shall also require dominant language terms to appear at the
top of the guide sign and minority language terms to appear at the bottom of the guide sign,
with all terms appearing in the same size font.
Proposed law requires DOTD, prior to submitting the supplement required by proposed law,
for approval by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation and Development, Federal Highway
Administration, and with the concurrence or permission of same, to test guides signs that
utilize symbols and guide signs that utilize both La. French and English terms in the certain
parishes to determine their usefulness in successfully and consistently guiding the public.
Proposed law provides that the Council for the Development of French in La. shall advise
the department in the proper usage of La. French on guide signs.
(Amends R.S. 32:235(A)(1); Adds R.S. 25:651(C)(7) and R.S. 32:235(A)(3))