By: Garcia, et al. S.B. No. 693
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to three-point seat belts on buses that transport
  schoolchildren.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 547.701(e), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (e)  In this subsection, "bus" includes a school bus, [and a]
  school activity bus, multifunction school activity bus, or
  school-chartered bus. 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 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; and
                     (B)  votes to approve that determination in a
  public meeting [applies to:
               [(1)     each bus purchased by a school district on or
  after September 1, 2010, for the transportation of schoolchildren;
  and
               [(2)     each school-chartered bus contracted for use by a
  school district on or after September 1, 2011, for the
  transportation of schoolchildren].
         SECTION 2.  Section 547.701(f), Transportation Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 3.  It is the public policy of this state to ensure
  the safety of all students by taking every measure possible to
  protect the lives and well-being of students during transportation
  on a bus to and from school and extracurricular activities,
  including the measure enacted in Section 547.701(e),
  Transportation Code, as amended by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.