By: Garcia S.B. No. 195
(In the Senate - Filed November 14, 2016; January 25, 2017,
read first time and referred to Committee on Education;
May 1, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 1; May 1, 2017, sent
to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 195 By: Lucio
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to funding under the transportation allotment for public
school students subject to a high risk of violence while walking to
school.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 42.155, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as
follows:
(d) A district or county may apply for and on approval of the
commissioner receive an additional amount of up to 10 percent of its
regular transportation allotment to be used for:
(1) the transportation of children living within two
miles of the school they attend who would be subject to hazardous
traffic conditions or a high risk of violence if they walked to
school; or
(2) programs under which children living in an area
described by Subdivision (1) are escorted by adults as they walk to
school.
(d-1) For purposes of Subsection (d), each [Each] board of
trustees shall provide to the commissioner an explanation [the
definition] of the hazardous traffic conditions or areas presenting
a high risk of violence applicable to that district and shall
identify the specific hazardous or high-risk areas for which the
allocation is requested. A hazardous traffic condition exists
where no walkway is provided and children must walk along or cross a
freeway or expressway, an underpass, an overpass or a bridge, an
uncontrolled major traffic artery, an industrial or commercial
area, or another comparable condition. An area presents a high risk
of violence if law enforcement records indicate a high incidence of
violent crimes in the area.
SECTION 2. The commissioner of education is required to
implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money
specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not
appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commissioner
of education may, but is not required to, implement this Act using
other appropriations available for the purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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