81R3270 EAH-F
By: Carona S.B. No. 356
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the frequency and content of school bus emergency
evacuation training.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 34.0021, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (b), and (d) and adding Subsection (c-1)
to read as follows:
(a) Pursuant to the safety standards established by the
Department of Public Safety under Section 34.002, each school
district shall conduct a training session for school bus passengers
[students and teachers] concerning procedures for evacuating a
school bus during an emergency.
(b) A school district shall conduct a [the] school bus
emergency evacuation training session [at least twice each school
year, with one training session occurring] in the fall of each
school year [and one training session occurring in the spring]. A
portion of the training session must occur on a school bus and the
training session must last for at least one hour.
(c-1) Immediately before each field trip involving
transportation by school bus, a school district shall review school
bus emergency evacuation procedures with the school bus passengers,
including a demonstration of the school bus emergency exits and the
safe manner to exit.
(d) Not later than the 30th day after the date that a school
district completes the [a] training session required by Subsection
(b), the district shall provide the Department of Public Safety
with a record certifying the district's completion of the training.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
school year.
SECTION 3. 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.