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Prepared by Jeanne Johnston.
Abramson HB No. 600
(KEYWORD, SUMMARY, AND DIGEST as amended by Senate committee
amendments)
SCHOOLS/TRANSP ORTATION. Prohibits school bus drivers from picking up or
dropping off children at school while the bus is in a lane of traffic
DIGEST
Present law (R.S. 17:158) requires public school boards to provide a student free
transportation to and from school if the student lives within the board's jurisdiction and more
than one mile from the school. Further authorizes a school board to provide free
transportation to students who live within one mile of the school, if the board determines that
conditions warrant such free transportation. Present law further restricts the ability of the
school board to eliminate or reduce such free transportation services. Proposed law retains
present law.
Proposed law requires the governing authority of each public school, including charter
schools, to adopt policies and procedures or to make provision in its bus transportation
service agreement to:
(1)Prohibit a bus driver from loading or unloading students at school while the bus is
in a traffic lane of any type of street as defined in present law and require that
students be loaded or unloaded on a shoulder, in a school parking lot, or at other
appropriate off-road location at the school. Provides that such prohibition shall not
apply when the shoulder of a municipal road is the only available alternative and the
municipality has not made the shoulder available by designating that area for loading
and unloading students during designated school zone hours.
(2)Prohibit a bus driver from loading or unloading students at or near their homes while
the bus is in a traffic lane of any type of street as defined in present law and require
that students be loaded or unloaded on a shoulder. Provides that if there is no
shoulder, a bus driver may load and unload a student while the bus is in a lane of
traffic but only if the bus is in the lane farthest to the right side of the road so that the
student does not need to cross any lane of traffic to get onto or off of the bus.
(3)Prohibit a bus driver from loading or unloading students either at school or at or near
their homes in a manner or in a location that results in students crossing lanes of
traffic on a state highway or any other type of street.
(Adds R.S. 17:158(J) and 3996(B)(34))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original
bill.
1. Provides that the proposed law prohibition does not apply if the shoulder of a
municipal road is the only available alternative and the municipality has not made
it available for loading and unloading students during designated school zone
hours.
House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill.
1. Broadens application of proposed law to public school governing authorities and
charter schools statewide instead of limiting its application to certain parishes. Page 2 of 2
Prepared by Jeanne Johnston.
2. Allows public school governing authorities and charter schools to provide the
prohibition required by proposed law in their bus transportation service
agreements as an alternative to doing so through the adoption of policies and
procedures.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
reengrossed bill
1. Broadens application of proposed law from a traffic lane to any type of street.
2. Broadens application of proposed law to apply to loading/unloading students at
or near their homes. Provides that if there is no shoulder, students may be
loaded/unloaded while the bus is in a traffic lane or street if the bus is in the far
right lane and a student does not have to cross a lane of traffic.
3. Prohibits a bus from loading/unloading students at school or home in a manner
that would require a student to cross lanes of traffic.