By: Garcia, et al. S.B. No. 693
(Phelan)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to three-point seat belts on buses that transport
schoolchildren.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 547.701(e), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(e) In this subsection, "bus" includes a school bus, [and a]
school activity bus, multifunction school activity bus, or
school-chartered bus. A bus operated by or contracted for use by a
school district for the transportation of schoolchildren shall be
equipped with a three-point seat belt for each passenger, including
the operator. This subsection does not apply to:
(1) a bus purchased by a school district that is a
model year 2017 or earlier; or
(2) a bus purchased by a school district that is a
model year 2018 or later if the board of trustees for the school
district:
(A) determines that the district's budget does
not permit the district to purchase a bus that is equipped with the
seat belts required by this subsection; and
(B) votes to approve that determination in a
public meeting [applies to:
[(1) each bus purchased by a school district on or
after September 1, 2010, for the transportation of schoolchildren;
and
[(2) each school-chartered bus contracted for use by a
school district on or after September 1, 2011, for the
transportation of schoolchildren].
SECTION 2. Section 547.701(f), Transportation Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 3. It is the public policy of this state to ensure
the safety of all students by taking every measure possible to
protect the lives and well-being of students during transportation
on a bus to and from school and extracurricular activities,
including the measure enacted in Section 547.701(e),
Transportation Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.