Bill Text: TX SB159 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to an education and training program for certain public transportation vehicle operators on interacting with and supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [SB159 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-SB159-Introduced.html
| 89R2400 BEE-D | ||
| By: Menéndez | S.B. No. 159 | |
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| relating to an education and training program for certain public | ||
| transportation vehicle operators on interacting with and | ||
| supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental | ||
| disabilities. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 451, Transportation Code, | ||
| is amended by adding Section 451.114 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 451.114. REQUIRED EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM ON | ||
| INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES: | ||
| CERTAIN AUTHORITIES. (a) This section applies only to an authority | ||
| created before 1980 in which the principal municipality has a | ||
| population of less than 1.9 million. | ||
| (b) An authority shall establish an education and training | ||
| program on interacting with and supporting individuals with | ||
| intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals | ||
| with autism spectrum disorder, for employees of the authority who | ||
| operate vehicles used to provide public transportation services for | ||
| the authority. The program must include instruction relating to: | ||
| (1) identifying and communicating with individuals | ||
| with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including | ||
| individuals with autism spectrum disorder; and | ||
| (2) assisting an individual with an intellectual or | ||
| developmental disability, including an individual with an autism | ||
| spectrum disorder, to safely enter and exit a vehicle used to | ||
| provide public transportation services. | ||
| (c) An authority, or a person with whom the authority | ||
| contracts, may not allow an employee to operate a vehicle used to | ||
| provide public transportation services for the authority unless the | ||
| employee has completed the training program established by the | ||
| authority under this section. | ||
| SECTION 2. Not later than March 1, 2026, a rapid transit | ||
| authority shall establish the training program required by Section | ||
| 451.114, Transportation Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this | ||
| section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
| (b) Section 451.114(c), Transportation Code, as added by | ||
| this Act, takes effect September 1, 2026. | ||
