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.