The Texas Education Agency announced that it is accepting applications for grant awards under the voluntary School Bus Seat Belt Grant Program, which allows school districts to defray the cost of purchasing new school buses equipped with lap/shoulder restraints during the current school year.

A TEA spokesperson confirmed that applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Central Time on Nov. 19, 2010. The request for application (RFA) , which includes detailed instructions and forms, has now been posted to the School Transportation Funding web page under the heading "School Transportation Funding." TEA added that this is required reading for all applicants.

Awards will be announced in December.

The program is authorized by Article IX, §17.14, of the 2010-2011 General Appropriations Act, which was passed by the 81st Texas Legislature. The original law was passed three years ago, but funding only recently was made available after the Texas Legislative Budget Board approved the TEA reimbursements based upon guidance and priorities reported this summer by the Texas Transportation Institute.

Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools are not required, under Texas Transportation Code, §547.701(f), to purchase school buses with three-point seat belts as of Sept. 1, 2010. The voluntary grant funds are available for such purchases, and if any district or charter school is a successful recipient of those funds, then buses purchased under the grant program are required to have three-point seat belts.