bill requiring crossing arms on newer school buses

The text as introduced · 359 words

89R4825 GP-D

By: Johnson
H.B. No. 1619

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to crossing arms on buses that transport schoolchildren.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 547.701, Transportation Code, is amended

by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (f) to

read as follows:

(a) A school bus shall be equipped with:

(1) a convex mirror or other device that reflects to

the school bus operator a clear view of the area immediately in

front of the vehicle that would otherwise be hidden from view; [ and ]

(2) signal lamps that:

(A) are mounted as high and as widely spaced

laterally as practicable;

(B) display four alternately flashing red

lights, two located on the front at the same level and two located

on the rear at the same level; and

(C) emit a light visible at a distance of 500 feet

in normal sunlight ; and

(3) if the vehicle is a model year 2021 or later, a

school bus crossing arm mounted on the vehicle's front bumper that:

(A) is at least 70 inches long and not longer than

the vehicle's width; and

(B) when activated, extends outward in front of

the vehicle to require students who cross the roadway in front of

the school bus to maintain a safe distance between themselves and

the school bus .

(c) When a school bus is being stopped or is stopped on a

highway to permit students to board or exit the bus, the operator of

the bus shall activate all flashing warning signal lights , a school

bus crossing arm required under Subsection (a)(3), and any other

equipment on the bus designed to warn other drivers that the bus is

stopping to load or unload children.

(f) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may

solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source to

implement the requirement of Subsection (a)(3).

SECTION 2. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this

section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2026.

(b) Section 547.701(f), Transportation Code, as added by

this Act, takes effect September 1, 2025.