Sec. 547.7015. RULES RELATING TO SCHOOL BUSES. (a) The department shall adopt and enforce rules governing the design, color, lighting and other equipment, construction, and operation of a school bus for the transportation of schoolchildren that is:

(1) owned and operated by a school district in this state; or

(2) privately owned and operated under a contract with a school district in this state.

(b) In adopting rules under this section, the department shall emphasize:

(1) safety features; and

(2) long-range, maintenance-free factors.

(c) Rules adopted under this section:

(1) apply to each school district, the officers and employees of a district, and each person employed under contract by a school district; and

(2) shall by reference be made a part of any contract that is entered into by a school district in this state for the transportation of schoolchildren on a privately owned school bus.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.119(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 309, Sec. 9.02, eff. June 18, 2003.