School Bus Specifications - Texas Department of Public Safety

GENERAL INFORMATION, REQUIREMENTS, AND CONDITIONSThis specification describes the requirements for school buses for the state of Texas. The 2010Texas School Bus Specifications are effective upon final adoption of the Public SafetyCommission.This specification is adopted as authorized under Texas Transportation Code Title 7, Chapter547.7015, Education Code 34.002, and Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, Part 1, Chapter 14.A copy may be obtained at www.txdps.state.tx.us/schoolbus/sbtexspecs.htmAll public school buses (bodies and chassis) purchased or acquired after the effective date ofthis document which are owned, operated, rented, leased, and/or contracted for by any publicschool board (including open enrollment charter school) and private school in Texas, totransport children to and from school or school-related events, and shall:a. Meet or exceed the minimum requirements of these specifications;b. Meet all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety StandardsThe requirements specified herein are the minimum requirements for school buses in Texas.The date used to determine the applicability of these specifications shall be defined as the datethe vendor receives the purchase order or signs a valid sales contract with the purchaser.Other government entities may reference the Texas School Bus Specification for purchase ofschool buses. When so referenced, school buses purchased shall meet all requirements.All school bus chassis and body manufacturers shall certify to the Department in the form of aletter that all school buses offered for sale to or use by the public school systems in Texas meetor exceed all standards, specifications, and requirements as specified herein and proof ofgeneral liability insurance to include the carrier of the insurance policy. Receipt of the lettershall precede the sale of a school bus built to these specifications.Dealer stock school buses and used school buses purchased or operated by a public schoolboard (including open enrollment charter schools) and private school in Texas shall meet orexceed all Federal and the State of Texas requirements for public school buses that were ineffect on the date the vehicle was ordered by the vendor from the manufacturer. The vendor,prior to the bid, will inform the potential purchaser, in writing, that the vendor is offering a"stock bus". All vendors must be licensed by the Texas Motor Vehicles Division of the TexasDepartment of Transportation to engage in the business of selling or exchanging motor vehiclesas specified in the Texas Motor Vehicle Commission Code, latest revision.For additional information see: http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/tn.toc.htm, when this siteopens scroll down to 503.021, 503.029, and 503.032.CLARIFICATION OF SPECIFICATIONSShould a clarification or interpretation of these Texas School Bus Specifications berequested, inquiries should be directed to the Texas Department of Public Safety,School Transportation, Program Administrator, P.O. Box 4087, Austin, TX78773-0525Section A-3