H.B. 3041 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 3041
By: Cook, Robby
Government Reform
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
Currently, the Texas Building and Procurement Commission (commission)
shares authority with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas
Education Agency for establishing safety standards for school buses.
Specifically the commission has the authority to adopt and enforce rules
governing the design, color, lighting and other equipment, construction,
and operation of school buses. 

H.B. 3041 removes the Commission's authority and designates the Department
of Public Safety as the primary agency charged with school bus safety
standards. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the opinion of the committee that rulemaking authority is expressly
delegated to the Department of Public Safety in SECTION 2 (Section
547.7015 (a) and (b)) of this bill. 


ANALYSIS
SECTION 1.  Amends Section 34.002 of the Education Code by deleting
language referring to the General Services Commission. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 547.7015 (a) and (b) of the Transportation Code
by deleting language referring to the General Services Commission.
Deleting this language effectively transfers the Commission's rulemaking
authority with respect to school bus safety standards to the Department of
Public Safety. 


EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003.