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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the transportation of public school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 34.002, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A school district may not require an operator of a |
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vehicle used to transport students to exceed the qualifications or |
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training required under the Transportation Code or other law. |
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SECTION 2. Section 34.003(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) School buses or mass transit authority motor buses shall |
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be used for the transportation of students to and from schools on |
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routes having 10 or more students. On those routes having fewer |
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than 10 students, passenger cars or passenger vans may be used for |
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the transportation of students to and from school. |
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SECTION 3. Section 521.022(h), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(h) This section does not apply to the operation of: |
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(1) a vehicle owned by a public institution of higher |
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education to transport students of a school district that operates |
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within that institution if: |
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(A) [(1)] the person operating the vehicle is |
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approved by the institution to operate the vehicle; and |
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(B) [(2)] the transportation is for a special |
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event, including a field trip; or |
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(2) a multifunction school activity bus, as defined by |
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Section 541.201, owned by a school district to transport students |
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of the district if: |
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(A) the bus is designed to accommodate 15 or |
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fewer passengers, including the operator; |
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(B) the person operating the bus is approved by |
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the district to operate the bus; and |
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(C) the transportation is for a school-related |
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activity trip other than routes to and from school. |
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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, 2015. |