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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 407
BY REPRESENTATIVES CARTER AND SMITH
STUDENT/SCH ATTENDANCE: Provides relative to eligibility criteria for admission or
readmission to a public school and prohibits the denial of admission or readmission
based on certain characteristics
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:221(B), relative to school attendance; to provide relative to2
eligibility criteria for admission or readmission to a public school; to prohibit city,3
parish, and other local public school boards from denying admission or readmission4
based on certain characteristics; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 17:221(B) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:7
ยง221. School attendance; compulsory ages; duty of parents; excessive absences;8
condition for driving privileges9
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B.(1) No A city, parish, or other local public school board shall deny grant11
admission or readmission to school of to any student of suitable age who resides12
within the geographic boundaries of the school system unless such student is legally13
excluded from attending school. person who meets all of the following criteria:14
(a) Resides within the geographic boundaries of the school system.15
(b) Meets the eligibility requirements for school entrance pursuant to R.S.16
17:222(A).17 HLS 14RS-1075 ENGROSSED
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(c) Is nineteen years of age or younger on September thirtieth of the calendar1
year in which the school year begins or is twenty years of age on September thirtieth2
of the calendar year in which the school year begins and has sufficient course credits3
that he will be able to graduate within one school year of admission or readmission.4
(d) Has not received a high school diploma or its equivalent.5
(e) Is otherwise eligible for enrollment in a public school pursuant to state6
law and the policies of the local school board and the State Board of Elementary and7
Secondary Education.8
(2) If a person meets all of the criteria in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection,9
no city, parish, or other local public school board may deny him admission or10
readmission based on any of the following characteristics:11
(a) The person voluntarily withdrew from school.12
(b) The person is pregnant.13
(c) The person is a parent.14
(d) The person is married.15
(3) The admission or readmission of a person who will be twenty years of16
age on September thirtieth of the calendar year in which the school year begins shall17
be limited to grade twelve.18
(4) The admission or readmission of any person who has been suspended or19
expelled from a Louisiana public school is subject to all laws and policies applicable20
to such disciplinary actions.21
(5) The admission or readmission of a person with an exceptionality is22
subject to federal and state law governing the age of eligibility for services for23
students with exceptionalities.24
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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)]
Carter HB No. 407
Abstract: Provides eligibility criteria for admission or readmission to a public school and
prohibits a school board from denying admission or readmission based on certain
characteristics.
Present law prohibits a public school board from denying admission or readmission to school
to any student of suitable age who resides within the geographic boundaries of the school
system unless such student is legally excluded from attending school.
Proposed law requires a public school board to grant admission or readmission to school to
any person who meets all of the following criteria:
(1)Resides within the geographic boundaries of the school system.
(2)Meets the eligibility requirements for school entrance pursuant to present law, which
requires that a child be six by Sept. 30 of the calendar year in which the school year
begins in order to enter the first grade of any public school.
(3)Is 19 or younger on Sept. 30 of the calendar year in which the school year begins or
is 20 on Sept 30 and has sufficient credit to graduate within a year.
(4)Has not received a high school diploma or its equivalent.
(5)Is otherwise eligible for enrollment in a public school pursuant to present law and
the policies of the local public school board and the State Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education (BESE).
Proposed law prohibits school boards from denying admission or readmission to a person
if he:
(1)Withdrew from school.
(2)Is pregnant.
(3)Is a parent.
(4)Is married.
Proposed law requires that the admission or readmission of a person who is 20 be limited
to grade 12.
Proposed law further provides that the admission or readmission of any person who has been
suspended or expelled from a La. public school is subject to all laws and policies applicable
to such disciplinary actions and that the admission or readmission of a person with an
exceptionality is subject to federal and state law governing the age of eligibility for services
for students with exceptionalities.
(Amends R.S. 17:221(B)) HLS 14RS-1075 ENGROSSED
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Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill.
1. Adds provision relative to applicability of federal and state law to the
admission or readmission of a person with an exceptionality.
2. Adds the course credit condition on the requirement for admission of 20 year
olds.