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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of school districts and school district |
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students to participate in University Interscholastic League |
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competitions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 33.0834 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.0834. SCHOOL BUS SEAT BELT COMPLIANCE AS CONDITION |
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OF PARTICIPATION IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE |
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COMPETITIONS. (a) In order to ensure the safety of all students, |
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including those who participate in off-campus activities, it is the |
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public policy of this state to take every measure possible to |
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protect the lives and well-being of students while being |
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transported to and from school and extracurricular activities. |
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(b) Unless a school district obtains a waiver from the |
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agency as provided by Subsection (c), the University |
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Interscholastic League may not permit a school district or the |
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school district's students to participate in a competition |
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sponsored by the league unless the school district is in compliance |
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with the school bus seat belt requirements imposed by Section |
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547.701(e), Transportation Code. |
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(c) The agency may provide a waiver for purposes of |
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Subsection (b) if a school district demonstrates to the agency's |
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satisfaction that the district: |
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(1) is unable to comply with the school bus seat belt |
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requirements because of financial hardship; and |
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(2) has pursued all potential sources of funding |
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available to assist a school district with the cost of complying, |
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including private donations and assistance available from the |
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agency as a result of state appropriations. |
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(d) The commissioner may adopt rules necessary to implement |
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this section. |
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(e) Section 547.701(f), Transportation Code, does not |
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affect the requirement imposed under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 33.0834, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |