89R5175 GP-D     By: Menéndez 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 Subsection (f) 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.  A bus shall be equipped with a two-point seat belt for   each passenger, including the operator, if the board of trustees   for the school district:                (1)  determines it is not feasible, in consideration of   the district's budget and student needs, for the district to equip   the district's buses with three-point seat belts as required by   this subsection; and                (2)  [This subsection does not apply to:                [(1)  a bus 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; and                      [(B)]  votes to approve that determination in a   public meeting.          (f)  A school district may accept gifts, grants, and   donations from any public or private source to implement the   requirements of Subsection (e).          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.