TEA to give out bus seat belt dollars

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas Education Agency said Friday it can finally start giving out reimbursements to school districts buying new buses equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts.

The new state law was meant to go into effect on Wednesday, mandating that seat belt requirement for all buses bought after Sept. 1.

TEA officials said it was waiting for approval to dole out the funds. But faced with the governor's five percent budget cut request, TEA also slashed the funding for the seat belt program from $10 million to $3.6 million.

The agency said if a need for a more than lesser amount arises, it will find a way to raise more funds. It would most likely come from surpluses from other TEA programs.