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))