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 695 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Abramson
Abstract: Amends certain present law restrictions on where school buses may load/unload students.
Present law requires the governing authority of each public school, including charter schools, to
adopt policies or to make provision in bus transportation service agreements relative to the
loading/unloading of students.
(1)At school: Present law prohibits loading/unloading students while the bus is in a traffic lane
of a street unless the shoulder of a municipal road is the only available alternative and the
municipality has not designated that shoulder for loading/unloading students during school
zone hours. Proposed law retains present law.
(2)At or near home: Present law requires loading/unloading students on a shoulder unless there
is no shoulder; if the loading/unloading must occur in a lane of traffic, requires that the bus
be 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. Proposed law retains present law except
provides that using the shoulder is not required if it is less safe and prohibits
loading/unloading where there is a lane of traffic between the bus and the right-side edge of
the road rather than prohibiting loading/unloading where a student would have to cross a lane
of traffic.
(3)At school or at or near home: Present law prohibits loading/unloading students 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. Proposed law instead prohibits loading/ unloading on a roadway in a
manner or in a location where all traffic is not controlled by the visual signals on the school
bus as provided in present law (R.S. 32:80) that would require the student to cross lanes of
traffic on the roadway in order to reach his school or home.
Present law (R.S. 32:80(A)(2)) specifies that a highway with two or more lanes in each direction and
a two-way left turn lane is a divided highway with separate roadways, and so oncoming traffic is not
required to stop for a bus on such a highway. Proposed law removes this exception from the
requirement that vehicles stop for a school bus that is loading/ unloading students.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:158(J)(2) and (3) and R.S. 32:80(C)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original bill:
1. Require loading/unloading students at or near their homes on a shoulder unless the
shoulder is determined by the school governing authority to be less safe rather than
unsafe.
2. Prohibit loading/unloading students at school or at or near their homes on certain
roadways instead of certain highways.