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AN ACT
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relating to seat belts on buses that transport children. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 547.701, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsections (f), (g), (g-1), |
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and (h) to read as follows: |
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(e) In this subsection, "bus" includes a school bus, school |
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activity bus, multifunction school activity bus, or |
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school-chartered bus. Except as otherwise provided by this |
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subsection, a [A] bus operated by or contracted for use by a school |
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district for the transportation of schoolchildren shall be equipped |
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with a three-point seat belt for each passenger, including the |
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operator. This subsection does not apply to: |
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(1) a bus operated by or contracted for use [purchased |
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by a school district that is a model year 2017 or earlier; or |
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[(2) a bus purchased] by a school district [that is a |
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model year 2018 or later] if the board of trustees for the school |
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district[: |
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[(A)] determines that the district's budget does |
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not permit the district to purchase a bus that is equipped with the |
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seat belts required by this subsection; or |
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(2) a bus for which the warranty would become void if |
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the bus were equipped to comply with this subsection[; and |
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[(B) votes to approve that determination in a |
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public meeting]. |
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(f) Not later than the end of the 2025-2026 school year, the |
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board of trustees of a school district that makes a determination |
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under Subsection (e)(1) shall submit to the Texas Education Agency |
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and present in a public meeting of the board a report that includes: |
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(1) the number of buses operated by or contracted for |
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use by the district that: |
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(A) are not equipped with seat belts; |
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(B) are equipped with two-point seat belts; and |
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(C) are equipped with three-point seat belts; and |
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(2) the estimated cost to the district to equip with |
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three-point seat belts each bus operated by or contracted for use by |
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the district that is not equipped with three-point seat belts as |
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required by Subsection (e). |
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(g) Not later than January 1, 2027, the Texas Education |
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Agency shall: |
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(1) collect the information submitted under |
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Subsection (f); |
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(2) calculate the total amount of financial assistance |
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needed for all school districts to come into full compliance with |
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Subsection (e); and |
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(3) summarize and make available to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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and each member of the legislature the information described by |
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Subdivisions (1) and (2). |
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(g-1) This subsection and Subsections (f) and (g) expire |
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January 1, 2028. |
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(h) A school district may accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from any public or private source to implement the |
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requirements of Subsection (e). |
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SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 547.701(e), |
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Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, a school district is |
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not required to comply with that subsection before September 1, |
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2029. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 546 passed the Senate on |
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April 22, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 546 passed the House on |
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May 27, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 104, Nays 38, two |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |