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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to school safety. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 37.212, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Section 37.212. INTERAGENCY COOPERATION. The center |
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shall: |
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(1) promote cooperation between state agencies, |
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institutions of higher education, and any local juvenile |
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delinquency prevention councils to address discipline and safety |
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issues in the state; and |
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(2) establish and develop criteria and minimum |
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guidelines required for school districts to enter into memorandum |
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of understanding and mutual aid agreements with local and regional |
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authorities, including first responders. |
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SECTION 2. Section 7.009(a), Education Code is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) In coordination with the Legislative Budget Board, the |
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agency shall establish an online clearinghouse of information |
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relating to best practices of campuses and school districts |
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regarding instruction, dropout prevention, public school finance, |
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resource allocation, safety, transportation, and business |
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practices. To the extent practicable, the agency shall ensure that |
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information provided through the online clearinghouse is specific, |
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actionable information relating to the best practices of |
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high-performing and highly efficient campuses and school districts |
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rather than general guidelines relating to campus and school |
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district operation. The information must be accessible by |
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campuses, school districts, and interested members of the public. |
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SECTION 3. Section 34.012, Education Code: is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Section 34.012. THREE-POINT SEAT BELT INSTRUCTION; |
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INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE. (a) In coordination with the |
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Clearinghouse established under Section 7.009, Education Code, the |
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State Board of Education shall develop and make available to each |
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school district a program of instruction in the proper use of a |
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three-point seat belt. |
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(b) The Clearinghouse [State Board of Education] shall |
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serve as a clearinghouse of best practices for school districts |
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seeking the most efficient and sensible information regarding |
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school bus safety, including possible compliance with Section |
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547.701, Transportation Code, using school buses originally |
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purchased without seat belts. |
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SECTION 4. Section 37.202, Education Code is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Section 37.202. PURPOSE. The purpose of the center is to |
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serve as: |
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(1) a central location for school safety information, |
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including research, training, and technical assistance related to |
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successful school safety programs; [and] |
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(2) a resource for the prevention of youth violence |
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and the promotion of safety in the state; and |
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(3) provide school safety recommendations to the Texas |
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Education Agency and State Board of Education. |
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SECTION 5. Section 547.701, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Section 537.701. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR |
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SCHOOL BUSES. (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) movable stop arms: |
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(A) that conform to regulations adopted under |
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Section 34.002, Education Code; and |
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(B) that may be operated only when the bus is |
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stopped to load or unload students. |
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(b) A school bus may be equipped with: |
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(1) rooftop warning lamps: |
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(A) that conform to and are placed on the bus in |
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accordance with specifications adopted under Section 34.002, |
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Education Code; and |
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(B) that are operated under rules adopted by the |
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school district; and |
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(2) a safety device recommended by the Texas School |
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Safety Center[movable stop arms:
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[(A)
that conform to regulations adopted under
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Section 34.002, Education Code; and
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[(B)
that may be operated only when the bus is
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stopped to load or unload students]. |
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(c) When a school bus is being stopped or is stopped on a |
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highway to permit students to board or exit the bus, the operator of |
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the bus shall activate all flashing warning signal lights and other |
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equipment on the bus designed to warn other drivers that the bus is |
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stopping to load or unload children. A person may not operate such a |
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light or other equipment except when the bus is being stopped or is |
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stopped on a highway to permit students to board or exit the bus. |
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(d) The exterior of a school bus may not bear advertising or |
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another paid announcement directed at the public if the advertising |
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or announcement distracts from the effectiveness of required safety |
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warning equipment. The department shall adopt rules to implement |
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this subsection. A school bus that violates this section or rules |
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adopted under this section shall be placed out of service until it |
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complies. |
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, the Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |