By: Menéndez S.B. No. 1738
(In the Senate - Filed March 6, 2019; March 14, 2019, read
first time and referred to Committee on Transportation;
May 8, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8,
Nays 0; May 8, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an education and training program on interacting with
and supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities for certain public transportation vehicle operators.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 451, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 451.114 to read as follows:
Sec. 451.114. REQUIRED EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM ON
INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES:
CERTAIN AUTHORITIES. (a) This section applies only to an
authority created before 1980 in which the principal municipality
has a population of less than 1.9 million.
(b) An authority shall establish an education and training
program on interacting with and supporting individuals with
intellectual and developmental disabilities for employees of the
authority who operate vehicles used to provide public
transportation services for the authority. The program must
include instruction relating to:
(1) identifying and communicating with individuals
with intellectual or developmental disabilities; and
(2) assisting an individual with an intellectual or
developmental disability to safely enter and exit a vehicle used to
provide public transportation services.
(c) An authority, or a person with whom the authority
contracts, may not allow an employee to operate a vehicle used to
provide public transportation services for the authority unless the
employee has completed the training program established by the
authority under this section.
SECTION 2. Not later than March 1, 2020, a rapid transit
authority shall establish the training program as required by
Section 451.114, Transportation Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
(b) Section 451.114(c), Transportation Code, as added by
this Act, takes effect September 1, 2020.
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