HLS 19RS-291 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 156
BY REPRESENTATIVE PUGH
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
MTR VEHICLE/BUSES-SCHOOL: Revises provisions related to school buses
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:164 and to enact R.S. 17:3996(A)(18), (19), and (20), relative
3 to school buses; to revise the authorities from which regulations relating to
4 construction, design, equipment, and operation of school buses are derived; to add
5 areas to the list from which charter school operations are not exempt; and to provide
6 for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 17:164 is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 17:3996(A)(18),
9(19), and (20) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §164. Regulations relating to construction, design, equipment, and operation of
11 school busses
12 The Louisiana state board of education is authorized, directed, and
13 empowered to establish and adopt regulations relating to the construction, design,
14 equipment, and operation of school busses used in transportation of students to and
15 from school. Such regulations shall be provided to encourage competition and in no
16 event shall be devised, worded, or construed so as to restrict competition among
17 manufacturers of school bus bodies, chassis, or other equipment or to benefit or favor
18 in any way a particular manufacturer or group of manufacturers of such bus bodies,
19 chassis, or other equipment, either directly by reference to detail of design peculiar
20 to a particular manufacturer or group of manufacturers; providing, any school bus
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HB NO. 156
1 body, chassis, or equipment that meets the latest revised minimum standards for
2 school buses adopted and recommended by the National Conference Congress on
3 School Transportation, sponsored by the National Council of Chief State School
4 Officers, the American Association of School Administrators, NEA, the Department
5 of Rural Education, NEA, and the U.S. Office of Education National Association of
6 State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, the National Association for Pupil
7 Transportation, the National School Transportation Association, the School
8 Transportation section of the National Safety Council, and the School Bus
9 Manufacturers Technical Council, shall be deemed in compliance with any such
10 regulations adopted by the Louisiana state board of education; providing such rules
11 and regulations as heretofore provided for shall not apply to any feeder busses in
12 operation in the State and shall not conflict with the Louisiana Department of
13 Education or statutory requirements for the design, construction, and operation of
14 school buses or requirements for school bus operators.
15 * * *
16 §3996. Charter schools; exemptions; requirements
17 A. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and
18 except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a
19 charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this
20 Chapter and its approved charter and the school's officers and employees shall be
21 exempt from all rules and regulations of the state board and those of any local school
22 board that are applicable to public schools and to public school officers and
23 employees except for the following rules and regulations otherwise applicable to
24 public schools regarding:
25 * * *
26 (18) Louisiana school bus specifications and inspection requirements.
27 (19) Louisiana school bus operational procedures.
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HB NO. 156
1 (20) School bus driver and bus attendant pre-employment screening and
2 training requirements as specified in the Louisiana Board of Elementary and
3 Secondary Education Bulletin 119 and Bulletin 126.
4 * * *
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 156 Original 2019 Regular Session Pugh
Abstract: Revises the authorities from which regulations relating to construction, design,
equipment, and operation of school buses are derived. Adds areas to the list from
which charter school operations are not exempt.
Present law provides regulations relating to construction, design, equipment, and operation
of school buses.
Proposed law modifies present law by changing the authorities for which the standards are
adopted and recommended from the National Conference on School Transportation, the
National Council of Chief State School Officers, the American Assn. of School
Administrators, NEA, the Dept. of Rural Education, NEA, and the U.S. Office of Education
to the National Congress on School Transportation, the National Assn. of State Directors of
Pupil Transportation Services, the National Assn. for Pupil Transportation, the National
School Transportation Assn., the School Transportation section of the National Safety
Council and the School Bus Manufacturers' Technical Council.
Proposed law further provides that the adopted regulations must not conflict with the La.
Dept. of Education or statutory requirements for the design, construction, and operation of
school buses or requirements for bus operators.
Present law provides a list or rules and regulations for which charter school operations are
not exempt.
Proposed law adds La. school bus specifications and inspection requirements, La. school bus
operational procedures, and school bus driver and bus attendant pre-employment screening
and training requirements as specified in the La. Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education Bulletin 119 and 126 to the list of rules and regulations for which charter school
operations are not exempt.
(Amends R.S. 17:164; Adds R.S. 17:3996(A)(18), (19), and (20))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.