H.B. 787 78(R)
Page 1 of 1BILL ANALYSIS 


H.B. 787
By: Dunnam
Law Enforcement
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a driver who injures a child by passing a school bus
during loading or unloading only faces a fine of up to $1,000.  According
to the Department of Public Safety, the number of injuries from school bus
accidents increased from 826 to 1,348 between 1991 and 1999.  This bill is
necessary to counter the growing number of serious bodily injuries
resulting from drivers illegally passing school buses.  House Bill 787
increases the penalty for drivers who seriously injure a person while
illegally passing a school bus and for those with multiple convictions for
illegally passing a school bus.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency. 


ANALYSIS

House Bill 787 amends Section 545.066(c) of the Transportation Code to
increase the penalty for causing serious bodily injury to another person
while illegally passing a school bus to a Class A misdemeanor.  The bill
also enhances the penalty to a state jail felony for an offender who has
been previously convicted for illegally passing a school bus under this
section. 
 
EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.