Congratulations to Amy and Denise for their hard work on behalf of Louisiana Multiples! Louisiana’s twins law was signed on 6/25/08!!!!

Please view the bill language above to understand your rights, as this law does not pertain to all grade levels, but it is a huge step forward on behalf of our multiples.





06/17/2008

S


Signed by the President of the Senate.

06/17/2008

H


Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

06/16/2008

H

32

Received from the Senate without amendments.

06/16/2008

S

68

Rules Suspended. Read by title and finally passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays. The bill was ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsided tabled.





ENROLLED

Page 1 of 2

CODING:  Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored

are additions.

Regular Session, 2008

HOUSE BILL NO. 1247

BY REPRESENTATIVE RICHARDSON

AN ACT1

To enact R.S. 17:221.4, relative to the placement in public elementary school classrooms of2

children born at the same birth event; to provide relative to parental requests for such3

placement; to provide guidelines, timelines, and procedures for such requests; to4

provide for review of initial placement decisions; to provide limitations; to provide5

definitions; to provide effectiveness; to provide an effective date; and to provide for6

related matters.7

Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8

Section 1. R.S. 17:221.4 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 9

§221.4.  Placement in classrooms of children born at the same birth event; parental10

request; limitations11

A.  In accordance with the provisions of this Section and effective with the12

2008-2009 school year and thereafter, a parent of more than one child born at the13

same birth event may request that such children initially be placed in the same14

classroom or in separate classrooms if the children are enrolled in the same grade15

level at the same public elementary school.  At the time of making such request,16

appropriate school or school system employees may provide advice and information17

to the parent relative to such request and make recommendations to the parent18

regarding such placement.19

B.  A request for the placement of a child pursuant to Subsection A of this20

Section shall be made to the superintendent of the school system in which the public21

elementary school is located or his designee no later than fourteen days after the first22

day of each school year or no later than fourteen days after the first day of attendance23

of the child during a school year if the child enrolls in school after the fourteenth day24

ENROLLEDHB NO. 1247

Page 2 of 2

CODING:  Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored

are additions.

of a new school year.  Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation, or school board1

policy to the contrary, the request by a parent for the initial placement of a child in2

a classroom in accordance with this Section shall be granted subject to change as3

provided by Subsection C of this Section.4

C.  The initial placement of a child in a classroom in accordance with the5

provisions of this Section shall be reviewed by the superintendent or his designee as6

soon as practicable after the end of the first grading period applicable to such child.7

If the superintendent or his designee, in consultation with the school principal, the8

child's teachers, and the parent, determines that such initial placement is disruptive9

to the school or is not in the best educational interest of the child, the initial10

placement of the child shall be modified, and the child shall be placed in accordance11

with school board policy otherwise applicable to the child.12

D.  For the purposes of this Section, the term "parent" shall mean the person13

responsible by law for the child's school attendance.14

E.  The provisions of this Section shall apply only to children enrolled in a15

public elementary school through the second grade. 16

Section 2.  This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not17

signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature18

by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana.  If19

vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become20

effective on the day following such approval.21

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA

APPROVED: