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78R5765 MTB-D
By: Cook of Colorado H.B. No. 3041
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to school bus safety standards.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 34.002(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The Department of Public Safety, with the advice of the
[General Services Commission and the] Texas Education Agency, shall
establish safety standards for school buses used to transport
students in accordance with Section 34.003 [34.002, Education
Code].
SECTION 2. Sections 547.7015(a) and (b), Transportation
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The department [General Services Commission, with the
advice of the department,] shall adopt and enforce rules governing
the design, color, lighting and other equipment, construction, and
operation of a school bus for the transportation of schoolchildren
that is:
(1) owned and operated by a school district in this
state; or
(2) privately owned and operated under a contract with
a school district in this state.
(b) In adopting rules under this section, the department
[General Services Commission] shall emphasize:
(1) safety features; and
(2) long-range, maintenance-free factors.
SECTION 3. Rules that were adopted under Section 547.7015,
Transportation Code, before the effective date of this Act and that
are in effect on the effective date of this Act are continued in
effect as rules of the Department of Public Safety until the rules
are amended, repealed, or superseded by an action of the
department.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.