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 371 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Bouie
Abstract: Prohibits the construction of a new public school on property formerly used as a landfill
for commercial disposal of certain waste unless required remediation is conducted by the
school governing authority.
Proposed law prohibits the governing authority of any public school or school in a special school
district from approving, authorizing, or implementing a plan for the construction of a new school for
grades pre-K-12 on land formerly used as a landfill for commercial disposal of solid or hazardous
waste unless remediation is conducted by the school governing authority as provided in proposed
law. Provides that this prohibition is not applicable to the repair and ordinary maintenance of an
existing school.
Proposed law provides that when the Dept. of Environmental Quality determines that concentration
levels of hazardous waste fail to meet the residential remediation standards of the department's Risk
Evaluation/Corrective Action Program on property on which a school will be constructed, the
governing authority of the school shall remediate the property to such standards.
(Adds R.S. 17:173)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original bill:
1. Narrow application of prohibition against school construction to land formerly used as
a landfill for commercial disposal of solid or hazardous waste and make prohibition
conditional upon certain determinations and actions relative to remediation.
2. Add requirement that a school governing authority remediate property prior to school
construction when Dept. of Environmental Quality determines the property does not meet
certain standards.