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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to school bus emergency evacuation training. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 34.0021, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (c-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Pursuant to the safety standards established by the |
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Department of Public Safety under Section 34.002, each school |
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district may [shall] conduct a training session for students and |
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teachers concerning procedures for evacuating a school bus during |
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an emergency. |
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(b) A school district that chooses to conduct a training |
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session under Subsection (a) is encouraged to [shall] conduct the |
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school bus emergency evacuation training session [at least twice
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each school year, with one training session occurring] in the fall |
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of the school year [and one training session occurring in the
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spring]. The school district is also encouraged to structure the |
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training session so that a [A] portion of the [training] session |
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occurs [must occur] on a school bus and the [training] session lasts |
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[must last] for at least one hour. |
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(c-1) Immediately before each field trip involving |
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transportation by school bus, a school district is encouraged to |
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review school bus emergency evacuation procedures with the school |
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bus passengers, including a demonstration of the school bus |
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emergency exits and the safe manner to exit. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 34.0021(d) and (e), Education Code, are |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2009. |