HBA-CDB S.B. 836 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 836
By: Duncan
Transportation
5-14-1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law requires all school buses carrying students to travel
at speeds not exceeding 55 miles per hour on an interstate and 50 miles per
hour elsewhere. In certain school districts that travel long distances to
extracurricular activities,  students must leave class earlier, and arrive
home later. S.B. 836 increases the speed limit for certain buses used to
transport students to school activities. 

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 541.201, Transportation Code, as follows:

(15) Adds new text to define "school activity bus."

(16) Redefines "school bus."  Redesignated from Subdivision (15).

(17)-(23) Redesiganted from Subdivisions (16)-(22).

SECTION 2. Amends Section 545.352(c), Transportation Code,  to provide that
the speed limits for a bus or other vehicle engaged in the business of
transporting passengers for compensation or hire, for a commercial vehicle
used as a highway post office vehicle for highway post office service in
the transportation of United States mail, for a light truck, and for a
school activity bus are the same as required for a passenger car at the
same time and location. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 521.022, Transportation Code, by adding
Subsection (i), to provide that for the purposes of this section, "school
bus" includes a school activity bus as defined by Section 541.201
(Vehicles). 

SECTION 4. Amends Section 548.001, Transportation Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 5. Amends Section 548.201(b), Transportation Code, to include that
an inspection program for commercial motor vehicles under this section also
applies to any school activity bus, as defined in Section 541.201, that has
a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating of more than
26,000 pounds, or is designed to transport more than 15 passengers,
including the driver. 

SECTION 6. Emergency clause.
Effective date: upon passage.