BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 3190
80R14309 DWS-F By: Giddings (Carona)
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Recent statistics show that at least 1.4 million students rely on school buses for transportation to and from school and school events. In addition, the number of buses in operation statewide has increased by a substantial amount in recent years.
Current law requires the driving record of candidates for school bus operators to be evaluated and provides for eligibility standards. Many serious offenses, such as driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, and murder with a motor vehicle, result in a seven-year wait period being imposed on the offender before the offender is eligible to drive a school bus. Due to the increasing number of students using buses, it is important that more time be given to evaluate candidates for school bus operator positions.
H.B. 3190 imposes a 10-year period after a driving intoxication offense before such offenders are eligible to operate a school bus.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 521.022(d), Transportation Code, to require the minimum standards adopted by the Department of Public Safety that a person must meet to operate a school bus for the transportation of students to provide that the person's driving record is not acceptable if the person has been convicted of an offense under Section 49.04 (Driving While Intoxicated), 49.045 (Driving While Intoxicated with Child Passenger), 49.07 (Intoxication Assault), or 49.08 (Intoxication Manslaughter), Penal Code, within the 10-year period preceding the date of the check of the person's driving record.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.