81R6327 CAS-D
By: Chisum H.B. No. 2871
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to grants to school district and countywide public school
transportation systems to be used to pay costs in purchasing school
buses capable of using propane as fuel.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 34, Education Code, is amended by adding
Section 34.0051 to read as follows:
Sec. 34.0051. GRANT PROGRAM FOR PURCHASE OF BUSES USING
PROPANE FUEL. (a) The commissioner by rule shall establish a
program under which the commissioner may award to school districts
and to countywide public school transportation systems grants to be
used to pay costs in purchasing school buses capable of using
propane as fuel.
(b) The amount of a grant awarded under this section may not
exceed $10,000.
(c) The commissioner may adopt any rule necessary to
administer this section and by rule shall:
(1) adopt an application procedure and form that a
school district or countywide transportation system must use in
applying for a grant under this section;
(2) adopt eligibility criteria for awarding a grant;
(3) adopt criteria for selecting among school
districts or countywide transportation systems if there are more
eligible districts or systems that apply for a grant than money
available to award a grant to each eligible district or system;
(4) establish the amount of a grant or adopt criteria
for determining grant amounts; and
(5) establish procedures for ensuring that a grant
award is used by a district or countywide transportation system
only in purchasing a school bus capable of using propane as fuel.
(d) Subsection (c)(5) includes the purchase of a school bus
in the manner provided by Section 34.005 or 45.001(a)(1)(D).
(e) A grant awarded under this section is in addition to a
transportation allotment under Section 42.155.
(f) A grant awarded under this section shall be paid for
with funds appropriated to the agency that may be used for that
purpose.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.