New laws affect guns, buses

L-N File Photo Seat Belts Coming Soon A new state law means new school buses will be required to have seat belts after 2010. The law does not affect existing buses until 2011.

Many new traffic and criminal laws went into effect Sept. 1 that readers need to be aware of. The following are some of the most notable changes to Texas laws, and were effective Sept. 1 unless otherwise noted:

Right To Bear Arms HB 1815 excludes from unlawful carrying of a weapon a person who is carrying a handgun, illegal knife, or club on the person's own premises or premises under their control or inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle that is owned by the person or is under their control. The bill makes it an offense to carry a handgun in a motor vehicle that is owned by the person or under the person's control if the handgun is in plain view or the person is engaged in certain criminal activity, is prohibited from possessing a firearm, or is a member of a criminal street gang.

HB 991 (effective May 23, 2007) makes confidential DPS records about who holds a concealed handgun in Texas. Criminal justice agency officials still have to access this information.

HB 233 provides a concealed handgun license fee waiver for active duty military members and honorably discharged veterans within one year of their discharge from the military service.

Schools and School Buses

HB 323 requires all new buses purchased by a school district on or after September 1, 2010 to be equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts. All buses contracted for use by a school district on or after September 1, 2011 must be equipped with lap/shoulder seatbelts. (The bill's provisions will not take effect unless the legislature appropriates the necessary funds to school districts to cover the expenses of such changes.)

HB 3190 prohibits persons who have committed offenses such as vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident from operating a school bus for 10 years after the offense; requires school bus operators to wear seat belts if the operator's seat is equipped with such restraints; prohibits the operation of a school bus if the number of persons inside the bus exceeds the manufacturer's design capacity for the vehicle or if the bus' door is open; authorizes a school bus operator to prohibit a passenger from standing or sitting on the floor of a bus or anywhere that is not a seat; requires a school bus evacuation training program and requires a school district to train all of its students and teaching staff in the process of emergency school bus evacuation at least twice a year.

SB 9 (effective June 15, 2007) requires a national criminal history background check for all certified public school employees; prevents individuals from employment with a school district if they have been convicted of a Title 5 Penal Code felony offense; or a sex offense when the victim of the crime was a child, a primary school student, or secondary school student; and creates a clearinghouse at DPS for criminal history background information on public school employees so this information can be shared between school districts.

HB 2112 prohibits a person from intentionally exhibiting, using or threatening to exhibit or use a firearm while on public or private school property (including in a school parking lot), or while on a school bus being used to transport children to or from school-sponsored activities.

Miscellaneous Laws

SB 1315 requires DPS to develop an alert system for missing senior citizens similar to the current Amber Alert Program for abducted children.

SB 1287 requires certain establishments that sell alcohol to post specific notification regarding the offense of human trafficking in both English and Spanish along with the number to the national human trafficking hotline.

HB 3613 creates a statewide standard for peace officer identification cards, including ID cards for reserve law enforcement officers and honorably retired peace officers.