HBA-LCA H.B. 2076 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2076
By: Hochberg
Public Education
4/20/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a school district is not required to provide
transportation for students who live within two miles of a school, and the
state does not generally provide funding to transport students living
within that distance.  However, a district may identify a hazardous zone
within the two-mile limit and receive an increase of up to 10 percent of
its regular transportation allotment. Current law does not define an area
of criminal activity as "hazardous" for the purpose of subsidizing
transportation in this manner. 

H.B. 2076 defines a deserted area or an area of criminal activity as
"hazardous," allowing a district to apply for and receive additional funds
to provide transportation to students living within those areas. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 42.155(d), Education Code, to provide that a
board of trustees must provide the definitions, rather than definition, of
hazardous conditions applicable to the district for which a transportation
allotment is requested.  Provides that a hazardous condition exists where
no safe walkway is provided.  Includes a deserted area or an area of
criminal activity among hazardous conditions. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  August 31, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.