HBA-MPA, PDH C.S.H.B. 964 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 964
By: Cuellar
Transportation
4/6/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, only certified peace officers are permitted to direct traffic.
Public school district crossing guards are permitted to escort children
across streets in designated areas but are prohibited from directing
traffic. Some districts hire off-duty peace officers to direct traffic and
minimize the danger associated with traffic.  Few school districts have the
financial resources to hire certified peace officers, however, most
districts have crossing guards on staff.  C.S.H.B. 964 allows the  local
authority to develop a school traffic control certification which would be
awarded to an individual who completes a certification training course in
traffic control based on recognized standards. 

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 542.501, Transportation Code, to include a
person trained under Section 600.004, Transportation Code, who is directing
traffic in a school crossing zone, among those whose orders may not be
willfully disregarded. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 600, Transportation Code, by adding Section
600.004, as follows: 

Sec. 600.004.  TRAINING OF SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD.  Authorizes a local
authority to permit a school crossing guard to direct traffic in a school
crossing zone if the guard successfully completes a training program in
traffic direction as defined by the basic peace officer course curriculum
established by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and
Education.  Provides that a school crossing guard is not a peace officer
and prohibits the carrying of a weapon while directing traffic in a school
crossing zone. 

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

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 964 differs from the original bill in SECTION 1 (proposed Section
600.004, Transportation Code) by specifying that the training course for
crossing guards in traffic direction must be as defined by the basic peace
officer course curriculum established by the Commission on Law Enforcement
Officer Standards and Education.