SRC-ARR S.B. 836 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 836 By: Duncan Education 3/30/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Texas law requires all school buses carrying school students to travel at speeds not exceeding 55 mph on an interstate and 50 mph elsewhere. Certain school districts that travel long distances to extracurricular activities must leave earlier. This causes the students to leave class earlier and arrive home later. S.B. 836 increases the speed limit for certain buses used to transport students to school activities. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 836 increases the speed limit for certain buses used to transport students to school activities. 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 541.201, Transportation Code, by adding a new Subdivision (15), renumbering existing Subdivision (15) as Subdivision (16) and amending that subdivision, and renumbering existing Subdivisions (16) through (22) as Subdivisions (17) through (23), to define "school activity bus," and redefine "school bus." Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 545.352(c), Transportation Code, to provide that the speed limits for a school activity bus are the same as required for a passenger car at the same time and location. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.