H.B. No. 323
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to three-point seat belts on buses that transport
  schoolchildren.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 547.701, Transportation
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 547.701.  ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL
  BUSES AND OTHER BUSES USED TO TRANSPORT SCHOOLCHILDREN.
         SECTION 2.  Section 547.701, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  In this subsection, "bus" includes a school bus and a
  school activity bus. A bus operated by or contracted for use by a
  school district for the transportation of schoolchildren shall be
  equipped with a three-point seat belt for each passenger, including
  the operator.  This subsection applies to:
               (1)  each bus purchased by a school district on or after
  September 1, 2010, for the transportation of schoolchildren; and
               (2)  each school-chartered bus contracted for use by a
  school district on or after September 1, 2011, for the
  transportation of schoolchildren.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 34, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Sections 34.012, 34.013, 34.014, and 34.015 to read as follows:
         Sec. 34.012.  THREE-POINT SEAT BELT INSTRUCTION;
  INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE.  (a)  The State Board of Education shall
  develop and make available to each school district a program of
  instruction in the proper use of a three-point seat belt.
         (b)  The State Board of Education shall serve as a
  clearinghouse of best practices for school districts seeking the
  most efficient and sensible information regarding school bus
  safety, including possible compliance with Section 547.701,
  Transportation Code, using school buses originally purchased
  without seat belts.
         Sec. 34.013.  BUS SEAT BELT POLICY.  A school district shall
  require a student riding a bus operated by or contracted for
  operation by the district to wear a seat belt if the bus is equipped
  with seat belts for all passengers on the bus.  A school district
  may implement a disciplinary policy to enforce the use of seat belts
  by students.
         Sec. 34.014.  FUNDING FOR THREE-POINT SEAT BELTS.  (a)  A
  person may offer to donate three-point seat belts or money for the
  purchase of three-point seat belts for a school district's school
  buses.
         (b)  The board of trustees of a school district shall
  consider any offer made by a person under Subsection (a). The board
  of trustees may accept or decline the offer after adequate
  consideration.
         (c)  The board of trustees may acknowledge a person who
  donates three-point seat belts or money for the purchase of
  three-point seat belts for a school bus under this section by
  displaying a small, discreet sign on the side or back of the bus
  recognizing the person who made the donation. The sign may not
  serve as an advertisement for the person who made the donation.
         Sec. 34.015.  REPORTING OF BUS ACCIDENTS. (a)  In this
  section, "bus" means a bus operated by or contracted for use by a
  school district to transport schoolchildren.
         (b)  A school district shall report annually to the Texas
  Education Agency the number of accidents in which the district's
  buses are involved. The agency by rule shall determine the
  information to be reported, including:
               (1)  the type of bus involved in the accident;
               (2)  whether the bus was equipped with seat belts;
               (3)  the number of students and adults involved in the
  accident;
               (4)  the number and types of injuries sustained by bus
  passengers in the accident; and
               (5)  whether the injured passengers were wearing seat
  belts at the time of the accident.
         (c)  The Texas Education Agency shall publish the reports
  received under this section on its Internet website.
         SECTION 4.  At any time before the dates prescribed in
  Section 2 of this Act, a school district may, by its own initiative
  and at its own expense, adapt any or all of its existing bus fleet
  with a three-point seat belt.
         SECTION 5.  The changes made by Section 2 of this Act do not
  take effect unless the legislature appropriates money specifically
  for the purpose of reimbursing school districts for expenses
  incurred in complying with that section.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 323 was passed by the House on May 1,
  2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 130, Nays 6, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 323 on May 21, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 0, 2
  present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 323 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 17, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor