88R7752 CXP-D
 
  By: Hernandez H.B. No. 1870
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to safety standards for private passenger van services
  that transport students to and from public primary and secondary
  schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 34, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Section 34.0025 to read as follows:
         Sec. 34.0025.  SAFETY STANDARDS FOR PRIVATE PASSENGER VAN
  SERVICES. (a) The Department of Public Safety, with the advice of
  the agency, shall:
               (1)  establish safety standards for private passenger
  van services that transport students to and from school for
  compensation; and
               (2)  develop an annual two-hour training course on
  transportation safety for operators and employees of a private
  passenger van service described by Subdivision (1).
         (b)  An operator of a private passenger van service described
  by Subsection (a)(1) may not transport students to and from school
  unless:
               (1)  the operator is registered with the secretary of
  state to transact business in this state;
               (2)  the operator maintains commercial insurance;
               (3)  the operator meets or exceeds the safety standards
  established under Subsection (a); and
               (4)  the operator and each employee of the operator who
  transports students for the private passenger van service complete
  the annual training course on transportation safety developed under
  Subsection (a).
         (c)  A school district shall provide to the parent of each
  district student at the beginning of each school year or on
  enrollment of the student after the beginning of a school year
  written notice stating that the district may not release a student
  to an operator of a private passenger van service described by
  Subsection (a)(1) unless the district receives a signed
  authorization letter from the parent that includes:
               (1)  the name of the student;
               (2)  the name and contact information of the operator;
  and
               (3)  an acknowledgement from the operator that the
  operator is in compliance with the requirements of Subsection (b).
         (d)  The Department of Public Safety and the agency shall
  jointly adopt rules to administer this section, including rules
  defining "private passenger van service" for purposes of this
  section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2024-2025
  school year.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.