81R4067 SLB-D
By: Berman H.B. No. 537
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the transportation of children in passenger vans;
creating an offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 545.412(f)(2), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(2) "Passenger vehicle" means a passenger car, light
truck, sport utility vehicle, passenger van designed to transport
15 or fewer passengers, including the driver, truck, or truck
tractor.
SECTION 2. Section 545.413, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) A person commits an offense if the person allows a
child who is younger than 17 years of age and who is not required to
be secured in a child passenger safety seat system under Section
545.412(a) to ride in a passenger van designed to transport 15 or
fewer passengers, including the driver, without securing the child
individually by a safety belt.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
covered by the law in effect immediately before the effective date
of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed
before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense
was committed before that date.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.