BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4208

By: Patrick

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Often, school buses will idle outside of a school or 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 bus drivers.  Breathing in air heavy with miniscule particles can be dangerous, even over a short time, because such particles are so small that they can enter a person's circulatory system and damage blood vessels. There also is a financial consideration to idling as it wastes fuel and money.  A typical bus burns approximately one-half gallon of diesel fuel for each hour of idling.  The less a school bus idles, the more money a school district can save.  A prohibition on idling will help reduce diesel exhaust emissions and save a school district money.

H.B. 4208 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 otherwise provided.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4208 amends the Education Code to prohibit 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 for the minimum time necessary to heat or cool the bus before departure, provided the engine is turned off when a student is embarking or disembarking, or as necessary to accommodate the physical needs of a student who receives special education services, regardless of whether students are embarking or disembarking.  The bill defines "idling" to mean allowing an engine to run while the motor vehicle is not engaged in forward or reverse motion.  The bill makes its provisions applicable beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.