ENROLLED
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
ACT No. 263
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 998
BY REPRESENTATIVE ORTEGO AND SENATOR LAFLEUR
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 32:235(A) and to enact R.S. 25:651(C)(7), relative to the2
uniform highway marking system manual and specifications for a uniform system3
of traffic control devices; to require the Department of Transportation and4
Development to adopt a supplement and specifications to the manual on uniform5
traffic control devices permitting parish governing authorities to request bilingual6
signs on certain roads; to provide guidelines for the supplement to be adopted by the7
Department of Transportation and Development; to provide for additional authority8
for the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana; and to provide for9
related matters.10
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:11
Section 1. R.S. 25:651(C)(7) is hereby enacted to read as follows: 12
§651. Creation; domicile; purposes13
* * *14
C. The purposes of the council shall include the following:15
* * *16
(7) To provide and approve Louisiana French terms for the supplement to17
the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to be placed on bilingual18
and symbol-based signs to be installed by the Department of Transportation and19
Development on state and federal highways pursuant to the uniform highway20
marking system, R.S. 32:235 et seq.21
* * *22 ENROLLEDHB NO. 998
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Section 2. R.S. 32:235(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:1
§235. Uniform highway marking system2
A. (1) The department shall adopt a manual and specifications for a uniform3
system of traffic control devices consistent with the provisions of this Chapter for4
use upon highways within this state. Such uniform system shall correlate with and5
so far as possible conform to the system then current as approved by the United6
States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Manual on7
Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), except that the department shall8
develop a supplement to the manual with all symbol-based or bilingual signs that9
display terms in both English and Louisiana French, subject to approval by the10
United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, which11
permits parish governing authorities to adopt such supplement, request that signs12
along state and federal highways within their boundaries be bilingual, and display13
terms in both English and Louisiana French. In developing the supplement, the14
department shall adhere to the following:15
(2) The department shall coordinate with the Council for the Development16
of French in Louisiana pursuant to R.S. 25:651 et seq., prior to application for17
approval from the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway18
Administration.19
(3) The supplement shall provide a process by which a parish governing20
authority may formally adopt the supplement. In the event the United States21
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration does not approve22
the bilingual supplement, it shall be returned to the governing authority of the parish23
which requested approval of a bilingual supplement. The parish governing authority24
may only proceed with local adoption of the supplement as it was submitted to the25
United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration but26
shall not erect any bilingual sign on any state or federal highway within the parish;27
signs installed on parish roads shall be at the expense of the parish.28
(4) provided that the The department is authorized to may deviate from said29
the system and to erect advisory signs only to post advisory weight limits on state30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 998
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
bridges where a state bridge is scheduled for replacement or strengthening within1
three years from the date of approval by the chief engineer of the department's2
weight rating evaluation of any state bridge. In addition, the department may deviate3
from the criteria contained in said system for location of traffic signals to the extent4
that additional weighted consideration shall be given to pedestrian and vehicular5
traffic volumes associated with schools which are located on state highways.6
(5) The department shall require that any signage on public highways which7
indicates maximum or minimum speed limits in kilometers also indicate such speed8
limits in miles per hour.9
* * *10
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: