2022 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 57
BY SENATOR MCMATH AND REPRESENTATIVES BACALA, CARRIER,
DUBUISSON, HARRIS, JEFFERSON, JENKINS, LARVADAIN,
NEWELL AND WHITE
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:497, relative to the compensation of school bus operators who
3 transport public school students; to provide changes to the method by which
4 compensation is calculated; to require compensation for certain purchases made by
5 school bus operators; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related
6 matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 17:497 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 ยง497. School bus operators; operational schedules compensation
10 A.(1) Beginning with the fall term of 1986, and continuing thereafter, there
11 There shall be paid to the operators thereof, as defined herein in this Section, for the
12 operation of each school bus operated in the public school system of the state of
13 Louisiana, a rate of compensation for such operation in accordance with the
14 following schedule:
15 Beginning Fall Term, 1986 and thereafter
16 (All figures are on a cents per mile basis.)
17 First 6 Next 6 Over 12
18 Miles Miles Miles
19 Length of bus 0-6.0 6.1-12.0 12.0 Plus
20 39 feet or more 117.80 107.08 80.29
21 38 feet or more,
22 but less than 39 feet112.44 101.72 80.29
23 34 feet or more,
24 but less than 38 feet107.08 96.36 80.29
ACT No. 661
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1 28 feet or more,
2 but less than 34 feet101.72 91.01 74.94
3 26 feet or more,
4 but less than 28 feet96.36 85.66 74.94
5 23 feet or more,
6 but less than 26 feet91.01 80.30 74.94
7 21 feet or more,
8 but less than 23 feet85.66 74.94 69.59
9 19 feet or more,
10 but less than 21 feet80.30 69.59 64.25
11 17 feet or more,
12 but less than 19 feet80.30 64.25 58.89
13 14 feet or more,
14 but less than 17 feet53.54 48.17 37.47
15 Less than 14 feet
16 buses, station wagons,
17 and carryalls 53.54 48.17 37.47
18 (a) For buses with a manufacturer's rated capacity of forty-eight
19 passengers or fewer, the minimum operational pay rate is $1.4683 per mile of
20 paid mileage.
21 (b) For buses with a manufacturer's rated capacity of greater than forty-
22 eight passengers, the minimum operational pay rate is $1.756 per mile of paid
23 mileage.
24 (2) For buses equipped with lift and mobility device securement systems,
25 the manufacturer's rated capacity shall be determined by the rated capacity of
26 a bus of equal length that is designed to transport only ambulatory passengers.
27 (2) (3)(a) The compensation, as computed in accordance with the schedule
28 contained in this Section, shall be paid for a minimum of the number of days of
29 actual operation, but not less than one hundred eighty days, during the nine-month
30 official school year adopted by the public school governing authority, and for the
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1 number of days of actual operation for any the summer semester, if applicable.
2 (b) Each public school governing authority shall establish supplemental
3 payments for individual operators who are required by the governing authority
4 to purchase any of the following equipment:
5 (i) Lift mechanisms, wheelchair or other mobility device securement
6 systems, occupant restraints, cleaning supplies, or other equipment required
7 exclusively for transporting students with disabilities.
8 (ii) Air-conditioning equipment.
9 (3) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education by rule shall
10 establish the method to be used for computing bus length for purposes of this
11 Section. The method established by the board shall be uniformly applicable to each
12 city and parish school system and such method shall be used by a city or parish
13 school board to the exclusion of all others.
14 B. The term "operator" as used in this Section shall mean any individual,
15 parish, or city school board or public school governing authority who that owns
16 and is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and replacement of a school bus
17 operated in the public schools of the state, including state universities, colleges, and
18 junior colleges.
19 C. The term "mileage one-way" "paid mileage" as used in this Section shall
20 mean the distance the bus travels after picking up its first child and student until it
21 reaches the final student discharge destination or school of said route or routes each
22 morning and afternoon route officially designated by each school board the public
23 school governing authority.
24 D.(1) Each school board public school governing authority shall designate
25 the size of the bus to be used on each official regular school bus route. When an
26 operator deems it necessary to purchase a bus, either new or used for not more than
27 five years from the date of manufacture, of the designated size to be used on an
28 official regular school bus route, he shall obtain the approval for the purchase by
29 from the school board public school governing authority or its duly designated
30 officer or agent. After purchasing a new or used bus not more than five years old, so
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1 an approved bus, no operator shall be penalized as a result of the change by the
2 school board public school governing authority in the designated size of the bus
3 or the length of the route within a five-year seven-year period. following such
4 purchase of a bus. However, the period shall be seven years for those operators who
5 purchase a new bus after July 1, 1985.
6 (2) No city or parish school board public school governing authority shall
7 approve the purchase by an operator of a used bus when the sole purpose of such
8 purchase is to extend the protected period against penalty provided for in this
9 Subsection.
10 (3) The distribution of state funds for school transportation to the city and
11 parish school boards public school governing authority shall include any costs
12 incurred by school boards the public school governing authority in complying with
13 these provisions.
14 E. Beginning with the first pay period commencing on or after January 1,
15 1965, any parish or city school system A public school governing authority exempt
16 from the provisions of R.S. 17:496 shall participate in is subject to this Section in
17 the same manner as other parish and city school systems public school governing
18 authorities.
19 F.(1) When funds become available, and continuing thereafter, there shall be
20 paid to the operators thereof, as defined herein, for the operation of each school bus
21 operated in the public school system of the state of Louisiana, a rate of compensation
22 for such operation in accordance with the following schedule:
23 Beginning Fall Term, 1986 and Thereafter
24 Length of bus Cents per mile
25 39 feet or more 117.80
26 38 feet or more, but less than 39 feet 112.44
27 34 feet or more, but less than 38 feet 107.08
28 28 feet or more, but less than 34 feet 101.72
29 26 feet or more, but less than 28 feet 96.36
30 23 feet or more, but less than 26 feet 91.01
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1 21 feet or more, but less than 23 feet 85.66
2 19 feet or more, but less than 21 feet 80.30
3 17 feet or more, but less than 19 feet 80.30
4 14 feet or more, but less than 17 feet 53.54
5 Less than 14 feet buses, station wagons, and carryalls 53.54
6 (2) The compensation, as computed in accordance with the schedules
7 contained in this Section, shall be paid for a minimum of one hundred eighty days
8 during the nine-month school year, and for the number of days of actual operation
9 for any summer semester. However, until funds become available, payment shall be
10 made as provided in Subsection A of this Section.
11 Section 2. Implementation of this Act shall begin with the 2022-2023 school year.
12 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
13 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
14 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
15 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
16 effective on the day following such approval.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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