81R4067 SLB-D
 
  By: Berman H.B. No. 537
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the transportation of children in passenger vans;
  creating an offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 545.412(f)(2), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (2)  "Passenger vehicle" means a passenger car, light
  truck, sport utility vehicle, passenger van designed to transport
  15 or fewer passengers, including the driver, truck, or truck
  tractor.
         SECTION 2.  Section 545.413, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
         (b-1)  A person commits an offense if the person allows a
  child who is younger than 17 years of age and who is not required to
  be secured in a child passenger safety seat system under Section
  545.412(a) to ride in a passenger van designed to transport 15 or
  fewer passengers, including the driver, without securing the child
  individually by a safety belt.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  covered by the law in effect immediately before the effective date
  of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed
  before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense
  was committed before that date.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.