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Alvin ISD trustees vote to exercise exception to seat-belt retrofit mandate for older buses
Summary
Trustees voted 6-0 to determine the district's budget does not permit purchasing or retrofitting buses with three-point seat belts under Senate Bill 546, citing replacement costs, fleet age and grant-seeking efforts. The resolution is a one-time statutory determination; compliance timing and future law changes remain possible.
The Alvin Independent School District board voted 6-0 to exercise a statutory budget-based exception under Senate Bill 546 and a cited Texas Transportation Code provision that allows districts to determine they cannot afford to purchase, retrofit or replace buses to meet a new three-point seat-belt requirement.
Trustee Johnson moved the resolution that, in accordance with Senate Bill 546 (the referenced Texas Transportation Code provision), "the district's current budget does not permit the purchase, retrofit, or replacement of school buses to equip them with the required 3-point seat belts at this time," and the board voted to exercise the statutory exception. Trustee Roberson seconded the motion.
During discussion trustees and staff noted the timeline and cost context: staff said the law does not require immediate compliance for all buses until later (speakers referenced 2029 as a compliance benchmark, subject to legislative change), and that many new buses now come factory-equipped with three-point seat belts. Trustees discussed fleet composition and costs: the board noted roughly 94 buses currently lack three-point seat belts and cited recent bus purchase price estimates that rose from about $100,000—110,000 years ago to roughly $165,000—185,000 per bus now; staff said average service life for district buses is about 10 years and that the transportation department actively pursues grants to offset replacement costs.
Trustee Johnson framed the vote in a broader funding context and urged continued attention to local funding and legislative choices affecting districts. No member opposed the motion; the chair announced the motion carried 6-0.
The board recorded the outcome but did not, in this meeting, adopt a specific replacement schedule; trustees said future purchases will bring newer buses that typically include three-point seat belts and that the district will continue pursuing grant opportunities to reduce local cost burdens.
