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)]
HB 653 Original 2015 Regular Session Mike Johnson
Abstract: Provides relative to the minimum requirements for instructional time in schools under
certain circumstances which result in a state of emergency declared by the governor.
Present law provides that the minimum school day for grades one through 12 in every public school
shall consist of 360 minutes of instructional time and the minimum school year shall consist of 177
days of instruction. Authorizes school governing authorities to modify the total number of
instructional minutes per day and instructional days per year under certain conditions, provided the
same minimum total instructional minutes for the year is not changed.
Present law provides that such provisions shall not be applicable to any city, parish, or other local
public school or school system which cannot meet the minimum requirements for any given school
year due to school closure for reasons of natural catastrophe or disaster as certified by the state
superintendent of education and approved by BESE in accordance with criteria established by the
board for such purpose. Provides for the requirement of documented information explaining the
reasons why such school or school system cannot meet minimum requirements and efforts made by
the school or school system toward meeting the requirements. Present law applies to an entire school
system only if every school within the system is forced to close.
Proposed law provides instead that the minimum requirements for instructional time for any given
school year shall not apply to any public school or school system when such school or system cannot
meet the requirements because of a natural catastrophe or disaster that results in a declaration of a
state of emergency by the governor. Proposed law retains present law with respect to the
applicability of such requirements to an entire school system if every school in the system is forced
to close. Removes requirements for documented explanations.
(Amends R.S. 17:154.1(A)(3))