79R1025 JRJ-D

By:  Hegar                                                        H.B. No. 795



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of flashing warning signal lights by a school 
bus.      
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 547.701(c), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(c)  When a school bus is being stopped or is stopped on a 
highway to permit students to board or exit the bus, the operator of 
the bus shall activate all flashing warning signal lights and other 
equipment on the bus designed to warn other drivers that the bus is 
stopping to load or unload children.  An operator of a school bus 
equipped with a manual switch that activates flashing warning 
signal lights shall activate the lights for not less than the last 
50 feet of movement of the bus before a stop to permit students to 
board or exit the bus.  A person may not operate such a light or 
other equipment except when the bus is being stopped or is stopped 
on a highway to permit students to board or exit the bus.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.