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.