HBA-TBM H.B. 2043 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2043 By: Williams Transportation 4/12/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law requires a school bus or mass transit authority motor bus to be used for the transportation of 10 or more students to and from school. School buses are also currently required to meet or exceed safety standards established by the Department of Public Safety with the advice of the General Services Commission and the Texas Education Agency. House Bill 2043 requires a school or motor bus that is put into use transporting students on or after September 1, 2001, to meet federal safety 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 2043 amends the Education Code to provide that a school bus or motor bus purchased, leased, or chartered or bus services contracted for on or after September 1, 2001 and used to transport preprimary, primary, or secondary students to and from school or in connection with school activities other than on routes to and from school must meet federal school bus safety standards. A school bus or motor bus in use on September 1, 2001 that does not meet the federal standards is authorized to continue in use until the earlier of September 1, 2006 or the end of the contract's term. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.