HLS 15RS-1305 ENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 653
BY REPRESENTATIVES MIKE JOHNSON, HENRY BURNS, AND REYNOLDS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
SCHOOLS: Provides relative to exemptions from the requirements for school instructional
time under certain circumstances
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:154.1(A)(3), relative to minimum requirements for
3 instructional time; to provide for applicability of such requirements to certain public
4 schools and school systems under certain circumstances; and to provide for related
5 matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:154.1(A)(3) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 ยง154.1. Length of school day and year; requirements
9 A.
10 * * *
11 (3) Effective for the 2002-2003 school year and thereafter, the Except as
12 otherwise provided by this Paragraph, the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this
13 Subsection shall not be applicable to any city, parish, or other local public school or
14 school system which cannot meet the minimum requirements for instructional time
15 as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection for any given school year due to
16 school closure, when such school closure occurs within the last thirty calendar days
17 of the school year, for reasons of natural catastrophe or disaster as certified by the
18 state superintendent of education and approved by the State Board of Elementary and
19 Education. Such certification and approval shall be in accordance with criteria
20 established pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board for such purpose.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-1305 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 653
1 Such rules and regulations shall include but shall not be limited to a requirement that
2 any city, parish, or other local public school or school system not able to meet the
3 requirements of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall submit to the state
4 superintendent of education in accordance with time lines established by the board
5 documented information explaining the reasons why such school or school system
6 cannot meet such requirements and any efforts made by the school or school system
7 toward meeting the requirements. as certified by the state superintendent of
8 education. Such certification shall be in accordance with criteria established
9 pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Elementary and
10 Secondary Education in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. Such
11 rules and regulations shall include but shall not be limited to the following: (a) a
12 requirement that any city, parish, or other local public school or school system not
13 able to meet the requirements of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall submit to the
14 state superintendent of education for approval, in accordance with time lines
15 established by the state board, documented information explaining the reasons why
16 such school or school system cannot meet such requirements and any efforts made
17 by the school or school system toward meeting the requirements and (b) a procedure
18 for a school or school system that does not receive approval by the state
19 superintendent of education pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph to appeal to
20 the state board for approval. The provisions of this Paragraph shall apply to an entire
21 school system only if every school within the system is forced to close for reasons
22 as provided in this Paragraph.
23 * * *
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 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Mike Johnson
Abstract: Provides relative to the applicability of the minimum requirements for
instructional time in schools due to school closure for reasons of natural catastrophe
or disaster.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-1305 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 653
Present law provides that the minimum school day for grades 1-12 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 that 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 the State Board of
Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) in accordance with criteria established by the
board pursuant to rules and regulations adopted for such purpose. Requires the school or
school system to submit information explaining the reasons why it cannot meet the 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 removes requirement for BESE approval in order for the school closure to
occur. Provides for approval by the state superintendent of the documented information
required for submission. Adds requirement that BESE rules and regulations include a
procedure for a school or school system that does not receive approval by the state
superintendent to appeal to BESE for approval. 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. Otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 17:154.1(A)(3))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Retain present law requiring certification of the catastrophe or disaster by the
state superintendent and requirement for submission of relevant information to
him.
2. Add that BESE rules and regulations include a procedure for appeal of a decision
by the state superintendent to BESE.
3. Delete proposed law condition that the natural catastrophe or disaster be one for
which the governor declares a state of emergency.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.