88R7752 CXP-D
By: Hernandez H.B. No. 1870
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to safety standards for private passenger van services
that transport students to and from public primary and secondary
schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 34, Education Code, is amended by adding
Section 34.0025 to read as follows:
Sec. 34.0025. SAFETY STANDARDS FOR PRIVATE PASSENGER VAN
SERVICES. (a) The Department of Public Safety, with the advice of
the agency, shall:
(1) establish safety standards for private passenger
van services that transport students to and from school for
compensation; and
(2) develop an annual two-hour training course on
transportation safety for operators and employees of a private
passenger van service described by Subdivision (1).
(b) An operator of a private passenger van service described
by Subsection (a)(1) may not transport students to and from school
unless:
(1) the operator is registered with the secretary of
state to transact business in this state;
(2) the operator maintains commercial insurance;
(3) the operator meets or exceeds the safety standards
established under Subsection (a); and
(4) the operator and each employee of the operator who
transports students for the private passenger van service complete
the annual training course on transportation safety developed under
Subsection (a).
(c) A school district shall provide to the parent of each
district student at the beginning of each school year or on
enrollment of the student after the beginning of a school year
written notice stating that the district may not release a student
to an operator of a private passenger van service described by
Subsection (a)(1) unless the district receives a signed
authorization letter from the parent that includes:
(1) the name of the student;
(2) the name and contact information of the operator;
and
(3) an acknowledgement from the operator that the
operator is in compliance with the requirements of Subsection (b).
(d) The Department of Public Safety and the agency shall
jointly adopt rules to administer this section, including rules
defining "private passenger van service" for purposes of this
section.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2024-2025
school year.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.