By Jones of Dallas H.B. No. 1694
76R2387 BDH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to safety seats on certain school buses.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 547.701, Transportation Code, is amended
1-5 by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (e) and (f) to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 (a) A school bus shall be equipped with:
1-8 (1) a convex mirror or other device that reflects to
1-9 the school bus operator a clear view of the area immediately in
1-10 front of the vehicle that would otherwise be hidden from view;
1-11 [and]
1-12 (2) signal lamps that:
1-13 (A) are mounted as high and as widely spaced
1-14 laterally as practicable;
1-15 (B) display four alternately flashing red
1-16 lights, two located on the front at the same level and two located
1-17 on the rear at the same level; and
1-18 (C) emit a light visible at a distance of 500
1-19 feet in normal sunlight; and
1-20 (3) a safety seat for each passenger except the
1-21 driver, if the school bus:
1-22 (A) is acquired on or after September 1, 2000;
1-23 and
1-24 (B) is used for the transportation of students
2-1 enrolled in grade level six or below.
2-2 (e) A school district, a person providing a school bus under
2-3 contract with a school district, or an agent or employee of a
2-4 school district is not liable for damages arising solely from
2-5 failure of a passenger to use all or part of a safety seat that
2-6 meets the requirements of this section and rules adopted under
2-7 Section 547.7015.
2-8 (f) In this section, "safety seat" means a seat that:
2-9 (1) is padded;
2-10 (2) has a back at least 28 inches high;
2-11 (3) is equipped with a lap seat belt; and
2-12 (4) satisfies the requirements of rules adopted under
2-13 Section 547.7015.
2-14 SECTION 2. Section 547.7015, Transportation Code, is amended
2-15 by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
2-16 follows:
2-17 (b) In adopting rules under this section, the General
2-18 Services Commission:
2-19 (1) shall emphasize:
2-20 (A) [(1)] safety features, including the proper
2-21 use of safety seats; and
2-22 (B) [(2)] long-range, maintenance-free factors;
2-23 and
2-24 (2) may require the installation and use of shoulder
2-25 belts in connection with safety seats.
2-26 (d) In this section, "safety seat" has the meaning assigned
2-27 by Section 547.701.
3-1 SECTION 3. Section 34.002(a), Education Code, is amended to
3-2 read as follows:
3-3 (a) The Department of Public Safety, with the advice of the
3-4 General Services Commission and the agency [Texas Education
3-5 Agency], shall establish safety standards for school buses used to
3-6 transport students in accordance with this section and Sections
3-7 547.701 and 547.7015, Transportation Code [Section 34.002,
3-8 Education Code].
3-9 SECTION 4. Chapter 34, Education Code, is amended by adding
3-10 Section 34.0031 to read as follows:
3-11 Sec. 34.0031. SAFETY SEAT INSTRUCTION. The State Board of
3-12 Education shall develop and make available to each school district
3-13 a program of instruction in the proper use of a safety seat in
3-14 accordance with Sections 547.701 and 547.7015, Transportation Code.
3-15 SECTION 5. The General Services Commission shall adopt
3-16 initial rules relating to safety seats in accordance with Sections
3-17 547.701 and 547.7015, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act,
3-18 before September 1, 2000. A school bus acquired on or after
3-19 September 1, 2000, that is used for the transportation of students
3-20 enrolled in grade level six or below must comply with safety seat
3-21 requirements imposed under those sections.
3-22 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the
3-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-26 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-27 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-1 passage, and it is so enacted.