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By: Hamilton, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) |
H.B. No. 323 |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House May 1, 2007; |
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May 2, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on |
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Transportation and Homeland Security; May 9, 2007, reported |
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adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following |
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vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 9, 2007, sent to printer.) |
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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 323 |
By: Watson |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to three-point seat belts on buses that transport |
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schoolchildren. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 547.701, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 547.701. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL |
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BUSES AND OTHER BUSES USED TO TRANSPORT SCHOOLCHILDREN. |
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SECTION 2. Section 547.701, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
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(e) In this subsection, "bus" includes a school bus and a |
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school activity bus. A bus operated by or contracted for use by a |
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school district for the transportation of schoolchildren shall be |
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equipped with a three-point seat belt for each passenger, including |
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the operator. This subsection applies to: |
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(1) each bus purchased by a school district on or after |
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September 1, 2010, for the transportation of schoolchildren; and |
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(2) each school-chartered bus contracted for use by a |
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school district on or after September 1, 2014, for the |
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transportation of schoolchildren. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 34, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 34.013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.013. FUNDING FOR THREE-POINT SEAT BELTS. (a) A |
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person may offer to donate three-point seat belts or money for the |
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purchase of three-point seat belts for a school district's school |
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buses. |
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(b) The board of trustees of a school district shall |
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consider any offer made by a person under Subsection (a). The board |
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of trustees may accept or decline the offer after adequate |
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consideration. |
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(c) The board of trustees may acknowledge a person who |
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donates three-point seat belts or money for the purchase of |
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three-point seat belts for a school bus under this section by |
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displaying a small, discreet sign on the side or back of the bus |
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recognizing the person who made the donation. The sign may not |
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serve as an advertisement for the person who made the donation. |
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SECTION 4. The changes made by Section 2 of this Act do not |
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take effect unless the legislature appropriates money specifically |
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for the purpose of reimbursing school districts for expenses |
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incurred in complying with that section. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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