BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1080
80R6736 JTS-F By: Carona
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, the driver of a school bus is not required to wear a seat belt when the school bus is in motion. Federal law (49 C.F.R. 392.16) requires all drivers of commercial motor vehicles to wear a safety belt while operating a commercial vehicle, but exempts government entities, including school districts and school bus contractors, therefore, exempting school bus drivers from this requirement. A school bus driver is at the same risk as a regular driver to be involved in an accident and therefore should be required to wear a safety belt. Furthermore, in the event of a crash, the driver of a school bus can become unseated and lose control of the school bus.
As proposed, S.B. 1080 establishes that a person commits an offense if, as the operator of a school bus equipped with a safety belt for the operator's seat, the person is not secured by the safety belt.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 545.413(a), Transportation Code, to establish that a person commits an offense if, as the operator of a school bus equipped with a safety belt for the operator's seat, the person is not secured by the safety belt. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.