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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to safety seats on school buses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 547.701, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) A school bus shall be equipped with: |
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(1) a convex mirror or other device that reflects to |
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the school bus operator a clear view of the area immediately in |
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front of the vehicle that would otherwise be hidden from view; [and] |
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(2) signal lamps that: |
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(A) are mounted as high and as widely spaced |
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laterally as practicable; |
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(B) display four alternately flashing red |
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lights, two located on the front at the same level and two located |
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on the rear at the same level; and |
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(C) emit a light visible at a distance of 500 feet |
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in normal sunlight; and |
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(3) for a school bus acquired on or after September 1, |
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2007, a safety seat for each passenger other than the driver. |
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(e) In this section, "safety seat" means a seat that: |
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(1) is padded; |
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(2) has a back at least 28 inches high; and |
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(3) is equipped with a three-point lap and shoulder |
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harness. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 34, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Sections 34.012 and 34.013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.012. SAFETY SEAT INSTRUCTION. The State Board of |
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Education shall develop and make available to each school district |
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a program of instruction in the proper use of a safety seat, as |
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defined by Section 547.701, Transportation Code. |
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Sec. 34.013. RETROFITTING SCHOOL BUSES WITH SAFETY |
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SEATS. (a) Each year a school district shall evaluate the |
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district's school buses to determine which buses, if any, can be |
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retrofitted with safety seats, as defined by Section 547.701, |
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Transportation Code. |
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(b) A school district that elects to retrofit a school bus |
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with safety seats shall contract with the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice for the retrofitting. |
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SECTION 3. Section 42.155, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (l) to read as follows: |
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(l) A school district is entitled to reimbursement for one |
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half the cost of retrofitting school buses with safety seats under |
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Section 34.013. |
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SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the State Board of Education shall develop and make |
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available the program of instruction relating to safety seats in |
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accordance with Section 34.012, Education Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |