89R5758 CXP-D     By: Hernandez H.B. No. 1684       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to safety standards for private passenger van services   that transport students to and from public primary and secondary   schools.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 34, Education Code, is amended by adding   Section 34.0025 to read as follows:          Sec. 34.0025.  SAFETY STANDARDS FOR PRIVATE PASSENGER VAN   SERVICES. (a) The Department of Public Safety, with the advice of   the agency, shall:                (1)  establish safety standards for private passenger   van services that transport students to and from school for   compensation; and                (2)  develop an annual two-hour training course on   transportation safety for operators and employees of a private   passenger van service described by Subdivision (1).          (b)  An operator of a private passenger van service described   by Subsection (a)(1) may not transport students to and from school   unless:                (1)  the operator is registered with the secretary of   state to transact business in this state;                (2)  the operator maintains commercial insurance;                (3)  the operator meets or exceeds the safety standards   established under Subsection (a); and                (4)  the operator and each employee of the operator who   transports students for the private passenger van service complete   the annual training course on transportation safety developed under   Subsection (a).          (c)  A school district shall provide to the parent of each   district student at the beginning of each school year or on   enrollment of the student after the beginning of a school year   written notice stating that the district may not release a student   to an operator of a private passenger van service described by   Subsection (a)(1) unless the district receives a signed   authorization letter from the parent that includes:                (1)  the name of the student;                (2)  the name and contact information of the operator;   and                (3)  an acknowledgement from the operator that the   operator is in compliance with the requirements of Subsection (b).          (d)  The Department of Public Safety and the agency shall   jointly adopt rules to administer this section, including rules   defining "private passenger van service" for purposes of this   section.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2026-2027   school year.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.