EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14/CBS4) — A new Texas law requiring three-point seatbelts on school buses is prompting the Socorro Independent School District to weigh the cost of upgrading its fleet.

Later today, the district’s board of trustees is set to learn more about the impacts of Senate Bill 546, which passed last year.

The law requires all buses in Texas school districts to have three-point seatbelts by Sept. 1, 2029.

Districts also must report estimated costs to the Texas Education Agency by May 29.

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Agenda documents show SISD has 275 buses.

Of those, 129 already have three-point seatbelts, 84 have two-point seatbelts and 62 have no seatbelts.

The three-point seatbelts go across the chest and lap.

Retrofitting the current fleet is estimated at just under $3.5 million, according to agenda documents.

Buying new buses would cost nearly $23 million, including about $8.5 million for 50 standard buses and just under $14.5 million for 80 special education buses.

According to the TEA’s website, districts will be able to participate in grant funding, with more details expected to be available at a later time.

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