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AN ACT
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relating to three-point seat belts on buses that transport |
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schoolchildren. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 547.701, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 547.701. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL |
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BUSES AND OTHER BUSES USED TO TRANSPORT SCHOOLCHILDREN. |
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SECTION 2. Section 547.701, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
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(e) In this subsection, "bus" includes a school bus and a |
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school activity bus. A bus operated by or contracted for use by a |
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school district for the transportation of schoolchildren shall be |
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equipped with a three-point seat belt for each passenger, including |
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the operator. This subsection applies to: |
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(1) each bus purchased by a school district on or after |
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September 1, 2010, for the transportation of schoolchildren; and |
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(2) each school-chartered bus contracted for use by a |
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school district on or after September 1, 2011, for the |
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transportation of schoolchildren. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 34, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Sections 34.012, 34.013, 34.014, and 34.015 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.012. THREE-POINT SEAT BELT INSTRUCTION; |
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INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE. (a) The State Board of Education shall |
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develop and make available to each school district a program of |
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instruction in the proper use of a three-point seat belt. |
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(b) The State Board of Education shall serve as a |
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clearinghouse of best practices for school districts seeking the |
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most efficient and sensible information regarding school bus |
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safety, including possible compliance with Section 547.701, |
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Transportation Code, using school buses originally purchased |
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without seat belts. |
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Sec. 34.013. BUS SEAT BELT POLICY. A school district shall |
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require a student riding a bus operated by or contracted for |
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operation by the district to wear a seat belt if the bus is equipped |
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with seat belts for all passengers on the bus. A school district |
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may implement a disciplinary policy to enforce the use of seat belts |
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by students. |
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Sec. 34.014. FUNDING FOR THREE-POINT SEAT BELTS. (a) A |
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person may offer to donate three-point seat belts or money for the |
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purchase of three-point seat belts for a school district's school |
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buses. |
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(b) The board of trustees of a school district shall |
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consider any offer made by a person under Subsection (a). The board |
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of trustees may accept or decline the offer after adequate |
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consideration. |
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(c) The board of trustees may acknowledge a person who |
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donates three-point seat belts or money for the purchase of |
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three-point seat belts for a school bus under this section by |
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displaying a small, discreet sign on the side or back of the bus |
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recognizing the person who made the donation. The sign may not |
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serve as an advertisement for the person who made the donation. |
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Sec. 34.015. REPORTING OF BUS ACCIDENTS. (a) In this |
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section, "bus" means a bus operated by or contracted for use by a |
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school district to transport schoolchildren. |
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(b) A school district shall report annually to the Texas |
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Education Agency the number of accidents in which the district's |
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buses are involved. The agency by rule shall determine the |
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information to be reported, including: |
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(1) the type of bus involved in the accident; |
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(2) whether the bus was equipped with seat belts; |
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(3) the number of students and adults involved in the |
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accident; |
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(4) the number and types of injuries sustained by bus |
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passengers in the accident; and |
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(5) whether the injured passengers were wearing seat |
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belts at the time of the accident. |
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(c) The Texas Education Agency shall publish the reports |
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received under this section on its Internet website. |
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SECTION 4. At any time before the dates prescribed in |
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Section 2 of this Act, a school district may, by its own initiative |
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and at its own expense, adapt any or all of its existing bus fleet |
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with a three-point seat belt. |
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SECTION 5. The changes made by Section 2 of this Act do not |
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take effect unless the legislature appropriates money specifically |
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for the purpose of reimbursing school districts for expenses |
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incurred in complying with that section. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 323 was passed by the House on May 1, |
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2007, by the following vote: Yeas 130, Nays 6, 2 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 323 on May 21, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0, 2 |
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present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 323 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 17, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |