17:497

Title 17. Education

Chapter 2. Teachers and Employees

Part II. Tenure

Subpart C. School Bus Operators

17:497 School bus operators; operational schedules

A. (1) Beginning with the fall term of 1986, and continuing thereafter, there shall be paid to the operators thereof, as defined herein, for the operation of each school bus operated in the public school system of the state of Louisiana, a rate of compensation for such operation in accordance with the following schedule:

Beginning Fall Term, 1986 and thereafter

(All figures are on a cents per mile basis.)

Length of bus

First 6 Miles 0-6.0

Next 6 Miles 6.1-12.0

Over 12 Miles 12.0 Plus

39 feet or more	117.80	107.08	80.29
38 feet or more, but less than 39 feet	112.44	101.72	80.29
34 feet or more, but less than 38 feet	107.08	96.36	80.29
28 feet or more, but less than 34 feet	101.72	91.01	74.94
26 feet or more, but less than 28 feet	96.36	85.66	74.94
23 feet or more, but less than 26 feet	91.01	80.30	74.94
21 feet or more, but less than 23 feet	85.66	74.94	69.59
19 feet or more, but less than 21 feet	80.30	69.59	64.25
17 feet or more, but less than 19 feet	80.30	64.25	58.89
14 feet or more, but less than 17 feet	53.54	48.17	37.47
Less than 14 feet buses, station wagons, and carryalls	53.54	48.17	37.47

(2) The compensation, as computed in accordance with the schedule contained in this Section shall be paid for a minimum of one hundred eighty days during the nine-month school year, and for the number of days of actual operation for any summer semester.

(3) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education by rule shall establish the method to be used for computing bus length for purposes of this Section. The method established by the board shall be uniformly applicable to each city and parish school system and such method shall be used by a city or parish school board to the exclusion of all others.

B. The term “operator” as used in this Section shall mean any individual, parish, or city school board who owns and is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and replacement of a school bus operated in the public schools of the state, including state universities, colleges and junior colleges.

C. The term “mileage one-way” as used in this Section shall mean the distance the bus travels after picking up its first child and until it reaches the final destination or school of said route or routes officially designated by each school board.

D. (1) Each school board shall designate the size of the bus to be used on each official regular school bus route. When an operator deems it necessary to purchase a bus, either new or used for not more than five years from the date of manufacture, of the designated size to be used on an official regular school bus route, he shall obtain the approval for the purchase by the school board or its duly designated officer or agent. After purchasing a new or used bus not more than five years old, so approved, no operator shall be penalized as a result of the change by the school board in the designated size of the bus or the length of the route within a five-year period following such purchase of a bus. However, the period shall be seven years for those operators who purchase a new bus after July 1, 1985.

(2) No city or parish school board shall approve the purchase by an operator of a used bus when the sole purpose of such purchase is to extend the protected period against penalty provided for in this Subsection.

(3) The distribution of state funds for school transportation to the city and parish school boards shall include any costs incurred by school boards in complying with these provisions.

E. Beginning with the first pay period commencing on or after January 1, 1965, any parish or city school system exempt from the provisions of R.S. 17:496 shall participate in this Section in the same manner as other parish and city school systems.

F. (1) When funds become available, and continuing thereafter, there shall be paid to the operators thereof, as defined herein, for the operation of each school bus operated in the public school system of the state of Louisiana, a rate of compensation for such operation in accordance with the following schedule:

Beginning Fall Term, 1986 and Thereafter

Length of bus

Cents per mile

39 feet or more	117.80
38 feet or more, but less than 39 feet	112.44
34 feet or more, but less than 38 feet	107.08
28 feet or more, but less than 34 feet	101.72
26 feet or more, but less than 28 feet	96.36
23 feet or more, but less than 26 feet	91.01
21 feet or more, but less than 23 feet	85.66
19 feet or more, but less than 21 feet	80.30
17 feet or more, but less than 19 feet	80.30
14 feet or more, but less than 17 feet	53.54
Less than 14 feet buses, station wagons and carryalls	53.54

(2) The compensation, as computed in accordance with the schedules contained in this Section, shall be paid for a minimum of one hundred eighty days during the nine-month school year, and for the number of days of actual operation for any summer semester. However, until funds become available, payment shall be made as provided in Subsection A of this Section.

Added by Acts 1954, No. 74, § 3. Amended by Acts 1955, No. 57, § 1; Acts 1955, No. 58, § 1; Acts 1956, No. 112, § 1; Acts 1964, Ex.Sess., No. 27, § 1; Acts 1966, No. 167, § 1; Acts 1967, No. 58, § 1; Acts 1968, No. 397, § 4; Acts 1968, Ex.Sess., No. 40, § 1; Acts 1970, No. 586, § 1; Acts 1970, No. 625, § 2; Acts 1971, No. 103, § 1; Acts 1974, No. 206, § 1; Acts 1978, No. 37, § 1; Acts 1979, No. 452, § 1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1980, No. 147, § 1, eff. July 2, 1980; Acts 1980, No. 382, § 1; Acts 1983, No. 658, § 1; Acts 1985, No. 619, § 1; Acts 1986, No. 140, § 1, eff. beginning with fall term 1986; Acts 1986, No. 360, § 1; Acts 1986, No. 1025, § 1; Acts 1992, No. 1086, § 1; Acts 2017, No. 335, § 1.