House Bill No. 308, introduced by Representative Owen, aims to streamline the reporting requirements and restructure certain commissions and advisory councils related to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the state Department of Education (DOE). The bill proposes to eliminate numerous reporting obligations, including those concerning the status of education, teacher exit data, and various educational programs. Additionally, it abolishes the Early Childhood Care and Education Commission and the Louisiana Environmental Education Commission, transferring their responsibilities to the Advisory Council on Early Childhood Care and Education and the DOE, respectively. The Advisory Council on Student Behavior and Discipline is also set to be dissolved.

The bill amends several sections of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, specifically R.S. 17, to reflect these changes, including the removal of specific reporting requirements and the establishment of new duties for the DOE. The proposed changes are set to take effect on August 1, 2025, with the removal of reporting requirements becoming effective on December 31, 2027. Overall, the bill seeks to reduce bureaucratic processes and enhance the efficiency of educational governance in Louisiana.

Statutes affected:
HB308 Original: 17:205(A), 17:216(A), 17:51(H), 17:21(N)(3), 17:7(2), 17:5(D), 17:4(E), 17:400(B), 17:205(B)(1), 17:220(B)(5), 17:23(B)(6), 36:651(E)(2), 17:6(C)(4), 17:7(28)(D), 17:3(B)(4), 17:4(G), 17:8(K), 17:5(E), 17:9(C)(3), 17:6(A)(5), 17:22(7), 17:8(D)(7), 17:9(B)(7), 17:10(G), 17:151(B)(3), 17:6(E), 17:264(A)(2), 17:2(E), 17:4(D), 17:11(D)(2), 17:23(E)(2), 17:420(B), 17:1(D)(3), 17:3005(F), 17:1(G)