Each governing board of a Texas institution of higher education must adopt a student travel policy and publish it, share it with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and get faculty and student input first.
Sec. 51.950. POLICY REGULATING STUDENT TRAVEL. (a) In this section, "governing board" and "institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003. (b) Each governing board of an institution of higher education shall adopt a policy regulating travel that is undertaken by one or more students presently enrolled at the institution to reach an activity or event that is located more than 25 miles from the institution that is organized and sponsored by the institution and that is: (1) funded by the institution, and the travel is undertaken using a vehicle owned or leased by the institution; or (2) required by a student organization registered at the institution. (c) The governing board shall seek advice and comment from the faculty and students of the institution before adopting any policy under this section. (d) The policy must contain provisions that address: (1) different modes of travel likely to be used by students; and (2) safety issues related to student travel, including: (A) use of seat belts or other safety devices; (B) passenger capacity; and (C) for the person providing transportation services: (i) qualifications and training required to operate that particular mode of travel; and (ii) fatigue at the time of travel. (e) The governing board shall make the policy available to the public by publishing the policy in the institution's catalog and by any other method the board considers appropriate. (f) The governing board shall file a copy of the policy adopted under this section, and any amendments to that policy, with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (g) This section does not create a claim or cause of action against an institution of higher education beyond a claim or cause of action authorized on the effective date of the Act that enacted this section by Chapter 101, Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 697, Sec. 1, eff. June 13, 2001. Renumbered from Education Code Sec. 51.949 by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1275, Sec. 2(28), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.