§ 17:500.1 — School bus operators; sick leave

Louisiana § 17:500.1

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 17: Credit Union Law

Text

§500.1. School bus operators; sick leave
A. A school bus operator as defined in R.S. 17:500 who is injured in his official
capacity as a result of physical assault and battery by any student or person and is disabled
as a result of such injury and cannot perform his functions as a school bus operator, shall
receive sick leave without reduction in pay while disabled as a result of such injury. If a
school bus operator is absent for six or more consecutive days as a result of such disability,
he shall be required to present a certificate from a physician certifying the disability. The
sick leave authorized by this Section shall be in addition to all other sick leave authorized by
R.S. 17:500, provided that additional sick leave for disability as a result of physical assault
and battery shall not be accumulated from year to year, nor shall such additional sick leave
be compensated for at death or retirement, or compensated for in any other manner except
as authorized in this Section.
B. At any time during the period of certified disability, if the school board questions
the validity of the physician certification, the board may require the school bus operator to
be examined by a physician selected by the board. In such a case, the board shall pay all costs
of the examination and any tests determined to be necessary. If the physician selected by the
board certifies the disability, the leave shall be granted or continued as appropriate. If the
physician selected by the board disagrees with the certification of the physician selected by
the school bus operator, the board may require the school bus operator to be examined by a
third physician whose name appears next in the rotation of physicians on a list established
by the local or state medical society for such purpose and maintained by the board. All costs
of an examination and any tests required by a third physician shall be paid by the board. The
opinion of the third physician shall be determinative of the issue.
C. (1) The school board shall not reduce the pay or accrued sick leave of a school bus
operator who is absent from his duties to seek medical attention or treatment as a result of
an injury as provided in this Section.
(2) If the school bus operator's physician determines that he is able to return to active
service as a school bus operator with restrictions and the board does not allow the school bus
operator to return to active service as a school bus operator subject to those restrictions, then
the school bus operator's leave shall be granted or continued, as appropriate, as provided in
this Section.
D. As used in this Section, "disabled" or "disability" means unable to or the inability
to perform the essential functions of the job of a school bus operator.

Legislative History

Added by Acts 1976, No. 501, §1; Acts 2017, No. 227, §1.