BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                              C.S.H.B. 3457

                                                                                                                     By: Hochberg (Zaffirini)

                                                                                                                                            Education

                                                                                                                                            5/16/2007

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The school bus idling ban is an effort to reduce diesel exhaust at public schools and school events.  Often, school buses will idle outside schools or at a school event for long periods of time.  The tailpipe exhaust generated by diesel engines accumulates on and around the bus and poses a health risk to children and to bus drivers.  Breathing air heavy with tiny particles can be dangerous, even over a short time, because these particles are so miniscule, they can enter the circulatory system and damage blood vessels.  Additionally, there is a financial cost to this practice, as idling wastes fuel and money.  A typical school bus burns approximately one-half gallon of diesel fuel for each hour it idles.  The less school buses idle, the more money school districts can save.

 

C.S.H.B. 3457 prohibits school buses with diesel engines from idling at schools or school events.

 

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 Chapter 34, Education Code, by adding Section 34.0041, as follows:

 

Sec. 34.0041.  IDLING BUS DIESEL ENGINE AT SCHOOL OR SCHOOL EVENT PROHIBITED.  (a) Defines "idling."

 

(b) Prohibits the driver of a school bus equipped with a diesel engine from allowing the idling of the bus engine while the bus is parked at a school or school event, except as provided by Subsection (c).

 

(c) Provides that Subsection (b) does not prohibit the idling of a school bus diesel engine for the minimum time necessary to heat or cool the bus before departure, provided that the engine is turned off when a student is embarking or disembarking.  Provides that Subsection (b) does not prohibit the idling of a school bus diesel engine as necessary to accommodate the physical needs of a student who receives special education services, regardless of whether students are embarking or disembarking.

 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of Section 34.0041, Education Code, as added by this Act, prospective to the 2007-2008 school year.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.