81R6327 CAS-D
 
  By: Chisum H.B. No. 2871
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to grants to school district and countywide public school
  transportation systems to be used to pay costs in purchasing school
  buses capable of using propane as fuel.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 34, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Section 34.0051 to read as follows:
         Sec. 34.0051.  GRANT PROGRAM FOR PURCHASE OF BUSES USING
  PROPANE FUEL. (a) The commissioner by rule shall establish a
  program under which the commissioner may award to school districts
  and to countywide public school transportation systems grants to be
  used to pay costs in purchasing school buses capable of using
  propane as fuel.
         (b)  The amount of a grant awarded under this section may not
  exceed $10,000.
         (c)  The commissioner may adopt any rule necessary to
  administer this section and by rule shall:
               (1)  adopt an application procedure and form that a
  school district or countywide transportation system must use in
  applying for a grant under this section;
               (2)  adopt eligibility criteria for awarding a grant;
               (3)  adopt criteria for selecting among school
  districts or countywide transportation systems if there are more
  eligible districts or systems that apply for a grant than money
  available to award a grant to each eligible district or system;
               (4)  establish the amount of a grant or adopt criteria
  for determining grant amounts; and
               (5)  establish procedures for ensuring that a grant
  award is used by a district or countywide transportation system
  only in purchasing a school bus capable of using propane as fuel.
         (d)  Subsection (c)(5) includes the purchase of a school bus
  in the manner provided by Section 34.005 or 45.001(a)(1)(D).
         (e)  A grant awarded under this section is in addition to a
  transportation allotment under Section 42.155.
         (f)  A grant awarded under this section shall be paid for
  with funds appropriated to the agency that may be used for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.