HLS 14RS-82 ORIGINAL
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 358
BY REPRESENTATIVE HARRISON
SCHOOLS/TRANSPORTATI ON: Provides relative to school bus transportation for
nonpublic school students in certain parishes
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:158(A)(1) and to enact R.S. 17:158(J), relative to school2
transportation; to provide relative to the requirement that school boards provide free3
transportation for certain students; to exempt school boards in certain parishes from4
this requirement as applied to nonpublic school students under certain circumstances;5
and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 17:158(A)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 17:158(J)8
is hereby enacted to read as follows: 9
ยง158. School buses for transportation of students; employment of bus operators;10
alternative means of transportation; improvement of school bus turnarounds;11
exceptions12
A.(1) Except as provided by Subsection Subsections H and J of this Section13
and in accordance with the requirements of Subsection F of this Section, each city,14
parish, and other local public school board shall provide free transportation for any15
student attending a school of suitable grade approved by the State Board of16
Elementary and Secondary Education within the jurisdictional boundaries of the17
local board if the student resides more than one mile from such school. This18
requirement shall not apply to any student attending a nonpublic school pursuant to19
R.S. 17:4011 through 4025.20
* * *21 HLS 14RS-82 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 358
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
J. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, a city,1
parish, or other local public school board in a parish having a population of not less2
than one hundred ten thousand persons and not more than one hundred fifteen3
thousand persons according to the latest federal decennial census shall not be4
required to provide free transportation for any student attending a nonpublic school5
if either the cost incurred or distance traveled in providing such transportation6
exceeds the board's per student average cost incurred or distance traveled in7
providing transportation for students attending public schools.8
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)]
Harrison HB No. 358
Abstract: Exempts, under certain circumstances, school boards in certain parishes from the
requirement that they provide free transportation for nonpublic school students.
Present law requires each local public school board to provide free transportation for
students attending any school (public or nonpublic) that is approved by the State Board of
Elementary and Secondary Education and located within the school board's jurisdictional
boundaries if the student resides more than one mile from the school. Excepts students
attending nonpublic schools through the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence
Program.
Proposed law creates an additional exception to present law for a school board in a parish
with a population between 110,000-115,000 persons by providing that it shall not be
required to provide free transportation for any student attending a nonpublic school if either
the cost incurred or distance traveled exceeds that for providing transportation for students
attending public schools.
(Amends R.S. 17:158(A)(1); Adds R.S. 17:158(J))