SRC-PNG C.S.H.B. 1744 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1744
By: Noriega (Gallegos)
Education
4/29/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, under Texas law, a school bus may be equipped with a rooftop
warning lamp which may only be used when the bus is stopped or stopping to
load or unload students during inclement weather.  This bill would
authorize a school bus to be equipped with rooftop warning lamps that are
operated under rules adopted by the school district, and would eliminate
the provision that rooftop warning lights on a school bus may operate only
during inclement weather when the bus is stopping to load or unload
students, in order to make school buses more visible. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1744 authorizes a school bus to be equipped with rooftop
warning lamps that are operated under rules adopted by the school district,
and eliminates the provision that rooftop warning lights on a school bus
may operate only during inclement weather when the bus is stopping to load
or unload students, in order to make school buses more visible. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 547.701(b), Transportation Code, to authorize a
school bus to be equipped with rooftop warning lamps that are operated
under rules adopted by the school district. Deletes existing Paragraph (B)
which provides that the rooftop warning lights of a school bus may be
operated only during inclement weather when the bus is stopped to load or
unload students.   

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.

Amends Section 547.701(b), Transportation Code, to authorize a school bus
to be equipped with rooftop warning lamps that are operated under rules
adopted by the school district.