§158.7.  Lease of school buses from school bus operators

A.  The purpose of this Section is to assist city, parish, and other local public school boards in providing school transportation by facilitating the lease of school buses by such school boards.  The legislature does hereby find and declare that the lease of school buses by city, parish, and other local public school boards from school bus operators pursuant to this Section is a public purpose.

B.  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each city, parish, and other local public school board may lease a school bus owned by any school bus operator employed by such school board or with whom such school board has contracted to provide transportation services for students from such school bus operator.  Any such school bus shall be used by the operator to transport students on the operator's assigned bus route.  Any such lease shall be in writing.

C.  Any school bus leased pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be leased for an amount equal to the compensation mandated by R.S. 17:497.

D.  Any operator who leases a bus as provided in this Section shall not receive the compensation provided by R.S. 17:497.

Acts 2001, No. 946, §1, eff. June 26, 2001.