| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to seat belts on buses that transport children. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 547.701, Transportation Code, is amended |
|
|
by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsections (f), (g), (g-1), |
|
|
and (h) to read as follows: |
|
|
(e) In this subsection, "bus" includes a school bus, school |
|
|
activity bus, multifunction school activity bus, or |
|
|
school-chartered bus. Except as otherwise provided by this |
|
|
subsection, a [A] bus operated by or contracted for use by a school |
|
|
district for the transportation of schoolchildren shall be equipped |
|
|
with a three-point seat belt for each passenger, including the |
|
|
operator. This subsection does not apply to: |
|
|
(1) a bus operated by or contracted for use [purchased |
|
|
by a school district that is a model year 2017 or earlier; or |
|
|
[(2) a bus purchased] by a school district [that is a |
|
|
model year 2018 or later] if the board of trustees for the school |
|
|
district[: |
|
|
[(A)] determines that the district's budget does |
|
|
not permit the district to purchase a bus that is equipped with the |
|
|
seat belts required by this subsection; or |
|
|
(2) a bus for which the warranty would become void if |
|
|
the bus were equipped to comply with this subsection[; and |
|
|
[(B) votes to approve that determination in a |
|
|
public meeting]. |
|
|
(f) Not later than the end of the 2025-2026 school year, the |
|
|
board of trustees of a school district that makes a determination |
|
|
under Subsection (e)(1) shall submit to the Texas Education Agency |
|
|
and present in a public meeting of the board a report that includes: |
|
|
(1) the number of buses operated by or contracted for |
|
|
use by the district that: |
|
|
(A) are not equipped with seat belts; |
|
|
(B) are equipped with two-point seat belts; and |
|
|
(C) are equipped with three-point seat belts; and |
|
|
(2) the estimated cost to the district to equip with |
|
|
three-point seat belts each bus operated by or contracted for use by |
|
|
the district that is not equipped with three-point seat belts as |
|
|
required by Subsection (e). |
|
|
(g) Not later than January 1, 2027, the Texas Education |
|
|
Agency shall: |
|
|
(1) collect the information submitted under |
|
|
Subsection (f); |
|
|
(2) calculate the total amount of financial assistance |
|
|
needed for all school districts to come into full compliance with |
|
|
Subsection (e); and |
|
|
(3) summarize and make available to the governor, the |
|
|
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
|
|
and each member of the legislature the information described by |
|
|
Subdivisions (1) and (2). |
|
|
(g-1) This subsection and Subsections (f) and (g) expire |
|
|
January 1, 2028. |
|
|
(h) A school district may accept gifts, grants, and |
|
|
donations from any public or private source to implement the |
|
|
requirements of Subsection (e). |
|
|
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 547.701(e), |
|
|
Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, a school district is |
|
|
not required to comply with that subsection before September 1, |
|
|
2029. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |