By Cuellar                                             H.B. No. 964
         76R1443 DRH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to allowing school crossing guards to direct traffic in a
 1-3     school crossing zone.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 542.501, Transportation Code, is amended
 1-6     to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec.  542.501.  OBEDIENCE REQUIRED TO POLICE OFFICERS AND TO
 1-8     SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS.  A person may not wilfully fail or refuse
 1-9     to comply with a lawful order or direction of:
1-10                 (1)  a police officer; or
1-11                 (2)  a school crossing guard who:
1-12                       (A)  is performing crossing guard duties in a
1-13     school crosswalk to stop and yield to a pedestrian; or
1-14                       (B)  has been trained under Section 600.004 and
1-15     is directing traffic in a school crossing zone.
1-16           SECTION 2.  Chapter 600, Transportation Code, is amended by
1-17     adding Section 600.004 to read as follows:
1-18           Sec. 600.004.  TRAINING OF SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD.  (a)  A
1-19     local authority may authorize a school crossing guard to direct
1-20     traffic in a school crossing zone if the guard successfully
1-21     completes a training program of at least four hours in length
1-22     developed by the local authority.
1-23           (b)  A school crossing guard trained under this section:
1-24                 (1)  is not a peace officer; and
 2-1                 (2)  may not carry a weapon while directing traffic in
 2-2     a school crossing zone.
 2-3           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 2-8     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-9     passage, and it is so enacted.