By: Menéndez, et al. S.B. No. 546
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to seat belts on buses that transport children.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 547.701, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsections (f), (g), (g-1),
and (h) to read as follows:
(e) In this subsection, "bus" includes a school bus, school
activity bus, multifunction school activity bus, or
school-chartered bus. Except as otherwise provided by this
subsection, a [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 operated by or contracted for use [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; or
(2) a bus for which the warranty would become void if
the bus were equipped to comply with this subsection[; and
[(B) votes to approve that determination in a
public meeting].
(f) Not later than the end of the 2025-2026 school year, the
board of trustees of a school district that makes a determination
under Subsection (e)(1) shall submit to the Texas Education Agency
and present in a public meeting of the board a report that includes:
(1) the number of buses operated by or contracted for
use by the district that:
(A) are not equipped with seat belts;
(B) are equipped with two-point seat belts; and
(C) are equipped with three-point seat belts; and
(2) the estimated cost to the district to equip with
three-point seat belts each bus operated by or contracted for use by
the district that is not equipped with three-point seat belts as
required by Subsection (e).
(g) Not later than January 1, 2027, the Texas Education
Agency shall:
(1) collect the information submitted under
Subsection (f);
(2) calculate the total amount of financial assistance
needed for all school districts to come into full compliance with
Subsection (e); and
(3) summarize and make available to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and each member of the legislature the information described by
Subdivisions (1) and (2).
(g-1) This subsection and Subsections (f) and (g) expire
January 1, 2028.
(h) A school district may accept gifts, grants, and
donations from any public or private source to implement the
requirements of Subsection (e).
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 547.701(e),
Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, a school district is
not required to comply with that subsection before September 1,
2029.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.