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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to funding under the transportation allotment for public |
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school students subject to a high risk of violence while walking to |
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school. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 42.155, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsections (d-1) and (d-2) to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) A district or county may apply for and on approval of the |
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commissioner receive an additional amount of up to 10 percent of its |
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regular transportation allotment to be used for the transportation |
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of children living within two miles of the school they attend who |
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would be subject to hazardous traffic conditions or a high risk of |
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violence if they walked to school. |
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(d-1) For purposes of Subsection (d), each [Each] board of |
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trustees shall provide to the commissioner an explanation [the
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definition] of the hazardous traffic conditions or areas presenting |
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a high risk of violence applicable to that district and shall |
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identify the specific hazardous or high-risk areas for which the |
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allocation is requested. A hazardous traffic condition exists |
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where no walkway is provided and children must walk along or cross a |
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freeway or expressway, an underpass, an overpass or a bridge, an |
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uncontrolled major traffic artery, an industrial or commercial |
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area, or another comparable condition. An area presents a high risk |
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of violence if law enforcement records indicate a high incidence of |
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violent crimes in the area. Each board of trustees requesting funds |
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for an area presenting a high risk of violence must, in addition to |
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the explanation required by this subsection, provide the |
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commissioner with consolidated law enforcement records that |
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document violent crimes identified by reporting agencies within the |
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relevant jurisdiction. |
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(d-2) A district or county may use all or part of any funds |
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received under Subsection (d) to support community walking |
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transportation programs, including walking school bus programs, |
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provided that the district or county requires each supported |
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program to submit a financial report to the district or county each |
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semester that covers services provided by the program for the |
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benefit of the district or county. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |