By Brown of Brazos                                     H.B. No. 930
         77R2865 KEL-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a written policy regulating certain travel by students
 1-3     enrolled at public institutions of higher education.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 51.949 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 51.949.  POLICY REGULATING STUDENT TRAVEL. (a)  In this
 1-8     section, "governing board" and "institution of higher education"
 1-9     have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
1-10           (b)  Each governing board of an institution of higher
1-11     education shall adopt a written policy regulating student travel
1-12     that is:
1-13                 (1)  organized or sponsored by the institution; or
1-14                 (2)  undertaken by more than one student passenger to
1-15     reach an activity located more than five miles from the campus of
1-16     the institution and organized or sponsored by the institution.
1-17           (c)  The governing board shall seek advice and comment from
1-18     the faculty and students of the institution before adopting any
1-19     policy under this section.
1-20           (d)  The policy must contain provisions that address:
1-21                 (1)  different modes of travel likely to be used by
1-22     students; and
1-23                 (2)  safety issues related to student travel,
1-24     including:
 2-1                       (A)  use of seat belts or other safety devices;
 2-2                       (B)  passenger capacity; and
 2-3                       (C)  for the person providing transportation
 2-4     services:
 2-5                             (i)  qualifications and training required
 2-6     to operate that particular mode of travel; and
 2-7                             (ii)  fatigue at the time of travel.
 2-8           (e)  The governing board shall make the policy available to
 2-9     the public by publishing the policy in the institution's catalog
2-10     and by any other method the board considers appropriate.
2-11           (f)  The governing board shall file a copy of the policy
2-12     adopted under this section, and any amendments to that policy, with
2-13     the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
2-14           SECTION 2. (a)  This Act applies to travel by students
2-15     enrolled at institutions of higher education during a semester or
2-16     summer session that begins on or after August 1, 2002.
2-17           (b)  Not later than January 1, 2002, each governing board of
2-18     an institution of higher education shall adopt the student travel
2-19     policy required by Section 51.949, Education Code, as added by this
2-20     Act, and not later than August 1, 2002, shall file a copy of the
2-21     policy with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
2-22           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-23     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-24     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-25     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-26     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.