SLS 25RS-364 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 160
BY SENATOR CATHEY
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
SCHOOLS. Allows transportation network companies to transport students to and from
school and school related functions. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:166.1, relative to transportation means of students in public schools; to
3 provide for transportation network companies to transport students to and from
4 school; to provide for certain requirements for transporting students; to provide for
5 documentation of trips; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:166.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง166.1. School transportation of students; alternative means of transportation
9 A. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, a city, parish,
10 or other local public school board may contract with a transportation network
11 company to transport students under the age of eighteen to or from a school or
12 school-related or sanctioned activity when the transportation network company
13 is in compliance with this Section and meets the following requirements:
14 (1) The driver is at least twenty-three years of age and possesses a valid
15 Louisiana driver's license for a minimum of three years.
16 (2) The driver has undergone a background check process which
17 includes:
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 160
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1 (a) A national and state fingerprint-based criminal background check in
2 accordance with Louisiana State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation
3 databases pursuant to R.S. 15:587.3.
4 (b) A clear Louisiana child abuse and neglect screen.
5 (3) The company shall provide child safety education to the driver, to
6 include:
7 (a) Safe driving practices.
8 (b) First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
9 (c) Special considerations for transporting youth with disabilities.
10 (d) Safe pick-up and drop-off procedures.
11 (e) Laws on proper child restraint systems.
12 (4) The company shall implement a technology-enabled solution that:
13 (a) Provides end-to-end viability of the ride and Global Positioning
14 System (GPS) tracking of the ride in real-time for the company, the passenger's
15 legal guardian, and, if different from the legal guardian, the person or entity
16 who scheduled the ride.
17 (b) Monitors the ride in real-time for safety-related anomalies.
18 (c) Provides the passenger's legal guardian with the ability to contact the
19 driver and the company directly.
20 (5) The company shall implement ride-tracking technology that allows
21 for the detection of the following driving behaviors:
22 (a) Device use.
23 (b) Speeding.
24 (c) Hard turning.
25 (d) Hard braking.
26 (e) Hard acceleration.
27 (f) Collision detection.
28 (6) The company shall ensure that vehicles used to provide these services
29 are:
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 160
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1 (a) Vehicles originally designed for not more than eight passengers,
2 including the driver.
3 (b) No more than thirteen years old.
4 (c) Inspected annually by a mechanic.
5 (7) A driver shall complete and document a daily pre-trip inspection
6 before providing a ride pursuant to a contract under this Section. The driver,
7 on the pre-trip inspection, shall:
8 (a) List any defects or deficiencies which would affect the safety of
9 operation of the vehicle.
10 (b) If no defects or deficiencies are discovered by or reported to the
11 driver, the documented inspection shall so indicate.
12 (8) Prior to performing services provided under this Section, any noted
13 defects or deficiencies listed in the annual or documented pre-trip vehicle
14 inspection shall be repaired or corrected.
15 (9) The company shall maintain commercial automotive insurance that
16 does not contain an exclusion for the transportation of an unaccompanied
17 minor.
18 (10) The company shall publish an annual safety report on its website.
19 B. Any rules promulgated by the department consistent with this Section,
20 and the contract between the transportation network company and a city,
21 parish, or other local public school board, shall exclusively govern the services
22 arranged by the company under this Section.
23 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
24 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
25 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
26 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
27 effective on the day following such approval.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 160
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.
The keyword, summary, 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)]
DIGEST
SB 160 Original 2025 Regular Session Cathey
Proposed law authorizes a city, parish, or other local public school board to contract with a
transportation network company to transport riders under the age of 18 to or from school,
a school related or sanctioned activity.
Proposed law requires the transportation company to meet the following:
(1) The driver is at least 23 years of age and possesses a valid driver's license for a
minimum of 3 years.
(2)The driver has undergone a background check process that includes a national and
state fingerprint based criminal background check against Louisiana State Police and
Federal Bureau of Investigation databases.
Proposed law provides for an end-to-end viability of the ride and Global Positioning System
(GPS) tracking of the ride in real-time for the company, the passenger's legal guardian, and,
if different from the legal guardian, the person or entity who scheduled the ride.
Proposed law provides for vehicles originally designed for not more than 8 passengers,
including the driver and that the vehicles will be no more than 13 model years old.
Proposed law requires a driver to complete and document a daily pre-trip inspection before
providing a ride pursuant to proposed law. Further, proposed law provides that the driver,
on the pre-trip inspection, must list any defects or deficiencies which would affect the safety
of operation of the vehicle and if no defects or deficiencies are discovered by or reported to
the driver, the documented inspection shall so indicate.
Proposed law requires for the company to maintain commercial automotive insurance that
does not contain an exclusion for the transportation of an unaccompanied minor.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:166.1)
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.