State 3-point seat-belt mandate pressures Brownfield ISD with costly bus retrofits

Superintendent's report: the board was briefed on a new state requirement to retrofit buses with three-point seat belts by 2029 and on the district's readiness to comply.

Brian, introduced during the superintendent's report, told trustees the law (referred to in the briefing as S P 5 46) requires implementation of three-point seat belts by 2029 and that the district's charter and activity fleets vary widely in belt configuration. "Currently, we have 6 charter buses, 3 with no seat belts and 2 with just lap band 2 point seat belts and just 1 with a 3 point seat belt," Brian said. He said some charter companies and manufacturers have declined to retrofit older buses.

Board members were shown the district's yellow-bus fleet and spare vehicles: "We have 14 yellow buses that are currently in our fleet. 6 of them have no seat belts at all. 3 of the buses have 3 point seat belts, and the other, 3 have 2 point seat belts," Brian said. He told trustees that retrofit cost estimates remain uncertain: "We've seen anywhere from $3,000 per seat in a 71 passenger bus all the way up to 12,000," and elsewhere in the briefing he said, "it's gonna cost 60,000, $70,000 to put 3 point seat belts in there and 50,000 for a new bus."

The board was told the district will submit a required report to TEA with an estimated cost and that any state funding would likely require future legislative action. Brian also warned of long delivery lead times for new buses, saying if districts order now they might not receive buses until late next year, complicating near-term compliance planning.

Next steps: District staff said they will prepare cost estimates and follow the state reporting process so TEA can consider funding options. Trustees did not take formal action at the meeting; the item was informational and will return if staff identifies budgetary requests.