Seat Belts Now Mandatory In School Buses

A new state law says school buses must be equipped with seat belts, beginning today.

The legislature passed Ashley and Alicia's law in memory of two girls who were killed in a Beaumont-area bus crash four years ago. Ashley's father, Brad Brown, says his family then pushed hard for a law mandating seat belts in school buses. "We don't want any other parent to suffer what we've suffered," he said.

The problem now is funding. The state set aside $10 million to help school districts pay for the mandate. But the Texas Education Agency has allocated only $4 million to reimburse school districts that comply.  Critics say TEA's decision to cut funding is linked to resistance from some school districts.