Alvin ISD’s board of trustees is scheduled to consider approval of compliance with state law requiring three-point seat belts on all school bus seats at its March 17 meeting.
What you need to know
Senate Bill 546, passed in the 89th Texas Legislature, requires all school buses operated by Texas districts to provide three-point seat belts for every rider by Sept. 1, 2029.
The state did not provide funding for the requirement, but districts may accept gifts, grants and donations to support implementation, according to state documents.
According to district documents, the new requirement does not apply to a bus:
- If the board determines that the district's budget does not permit the district to purchase a bus that is equipped with the required seat belts
- For which the warranty would become void if the bus were equipped to comply
To be in full compliance with SB 546, the district would need to retrofit or replace buses at an estimated cost of $12.6 million, according to district documents.
What’s next
The board of trustees will meet at 6 p.m. March 17 in the Alvin ISD Administration Building, located at 301 E. House St., Alvin.
