Abramson HB No. 695
(KEYWORD, SUMMARY, AND DIGEST as amended by Senate committee
amendments)
SCHOOLS/TRANSP ORTATION. Provides relative to the loading and unloading of
students on to and off of school buses.
DIGEST
HB 695 Reengrossed 2015 Regular Session Abramson
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 in a location on a divided highway such that a student would be required
to cross a roadway not controlled by the visual signals on the school bus.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:158(J)(2) and (3))
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.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Provide that the student cannot be required to cross a roadway where traffic is not
controlled by the signals on the bus rather than a roadway where traffic is so
controlled.
Page 1 of 2
Prepared by Alan Miller. Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
reengrossed bill
1. Deleted reference to divided highway definition with regard to meeting or passing
a school bus.
Page 2 of 2
Prepared by Alan Miller.