Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB681 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R3871 TSS-D
2	2	By: Blanco S.B. No. 681
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to requiring school districts to adopt a policy regarding
8	8	the idling of the engine of a school bus.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Chapter 34, Education Code, is amended by adding
11	11	Section 34.0031 to read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 34.0031. BUS IDLING POLICY. (a) In this section,
13	13	"idling" means allowing an engine to run while the motor vehicle is
14	14	not engaged in forward or reverse motion.
15	15	(b) The board of trustees of each school district shall
16	16	adopt a policy that minimizes the amount of time that drivers of
17	17	buses operated or contracted for operation by the district spend
18	18	idling the bus engine. The policy shall, to the extent practicable:
19	19	(1) require a bus to be engaged in forward or reverse
20	20	motion when the bus engine is running;
21	21	(2) require that a bus driver promptly turn off the bus
22	22	engine on arrival at a campus loading or unloading area or bus
23	23	station, depot, or terminal located on or within one-half mile of a
24	24	district campus;
25	25	(3) require that, before departing a campus loading or
26	26	unloading area or bus station, depot, or terminal located on or
27	27	within one-half mile of a district campus, the bus driver not start
28	28	the bus engine until the bus is prepared to engage in motion;
29	29	(4) require a bus driver to limit idling time before
30	30	departure to the time recommended by the bus manufacturer to heat or
31	31	cool the bus as necessary;
32	32	(5) minimize the time students spend on a bus
33	33	traveling to and from school; and
34	34	(6) require a sign with the words "No Idling" to be
35	35	posted on each district campus in each area where students are
36	36	regularly dropped off or picked up.
37	37	(c) To maximize the effectiveness of a policy adopted under
38	38	Subsection (b), a school district may:
39	39	(1) review any federal, state, or local regulations
40	40	relating to engine idling to ensure the district's policy is
41	41	consistent with those regulations;
42	42	(2) offer training on the policy for bus drivers
43	43	employed by the district;
44	44	(3) perform random checks to ensure bus drivers are
45	45	complying with the policy at:
46	46	(A) bus stations, depots, and terminals;
47	47	(B) campus loading or unloading areas; and
48	48	(C) other areas where idling may occur;
49	49	(4) use technology designed to reduce idling to
50	50	optimize fuel economy, equipment operation, and student comfort;
51	51	(5) develop strategies to recognize bus drivers who
52	52	successfully reduce idling of the bus engine;
53	53	(6) if the school district contracts with a mass
54	54	transit authority, commercial transportation company, or juvenile
55	55	board for any part of the district's public school transportation,
56	56	coordinate with the authority, company, or board to ensure
57	57	compliance with the policy;
58	58	(7) develop and implement educational programs for
59	59	students on strategies for preventing and reversing air pollution,
60	60	including methods to reduce engine idling;
61	61	(8) encourage local governmental entities to adopt
62	62	idling reduction plans and programs; and
63	63	(9) publicize the success of the district's policy and
64	64	any additional district idling reduction programs.
65	65	SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
66	66	school year.
67	67	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
68	68	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
69	69	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
70	70	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
71	71	Act takes effect September 1, 2021.