| 1 | 1 | | 81R4458 PAM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Flores H.B. No. 624 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to state funding for school districts for transportation |
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| 8 | 8 | | of students who would be subject to hazardous traffic conditions |
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| 9 | 9 | | while walking. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Section 42.155(d), Education Code, is amended to |
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| 12 | 12 | | read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (d) A district or county may apply for and on approval of the |
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| 14 | 14 | | commissioner receive an [additional] amount in addition to [of up |
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| 15 | 15 | | to 10 percent of] its regular transportation allotment to be used |
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| 16 | 16 | | for the transportation of children living within two miles of the |
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| 17 | 17 | | school they attend who would be subject to hazardous traffic |
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| 18 | 18 | | conditions if they walked to school. The commissioner shall |
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| 19 | 19 | | determine the amount of the additional allotment received under |
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| 20 | 20 | | this subsection. Each board of trustees shall adopt a policy that |
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| 21 | 21 | | defines [provide to the commissioner the definition of] hazardous |
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| 22 | 22 | | traffic conditions applicable to that district and identifies |
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| 23 | 23 | | [shall identify] the specific hazardous traffic areas for which the |
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| 24 | 24 | | allocation is requested. A hazardous traffic condition includes a |
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| 25 | 25 | | condition [exists] where no sidewalk or walkway is provided and |
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| 26 | 26 | | children must walk along or cross a freeway or expressway, an |
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| 27 | 27 | | underpass, an overpass or a bridge, an uncontrolled major traffic |
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| 28 | 28 | | artery, an industrial or commercial area, or another comparable |
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| 29 | 29 | | condition. Each board of trustees shall provide a copy of the |
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| 30 | 30 | | policy adopted under this subsection to the commissioner and |
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| 31 | 31 | | annually update or confirm that policy, as provided by the |
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| 32 | 32 | | commissioner, to maintain eligibility for an additional allotment |
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| 33 | 33 | | under this subsection. A determination by the commissioner under |
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| 34 | 34 | | this subsection is final and may not be appealed. |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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| 36 | 36 | | school year. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 38 | 38 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 39 | 39 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 40 | 40 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 41 | 41 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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