(a) A center must adopt and enforce written policies
and procedures to ensure the care and safety of minors during transport.

(b) A center must appropriately train staff on the
needs of a minor being transported.
(c) A center must properly restrain or secure a minor
when the minor is transported by the center in a motor vehicle, in
accordance with applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards,
state law, THSC Chapter 248A, and this chapter.
(d) A center must ensure that:
  (1) a minor boards and leaves the vehicle from the
curbside of the street and is safely accompanied to the minor's destination;

  (2) there is a first aid kit with unexpired supplies,
including oxygen, a pulse oximeter, and suction equipment, in each
center vehicle;
  (3) the center prohibits the use of tobacco in any
form, electronic cigarettes, alcohol and possession of illegal substances
or unauthorized potentially toxic substances, firearms, pellet or
BB guns, including loaded or unloaded BB guns, in any vehicle;
  (4) the driver does not use a hand-held wireless communication
device while operating a center vehicle;
  (5) a center's nurse accompanies all minors during
transport;
  (6) at least one direct care staff member, or more
depending on the acuity of the minors, accompanies every seven minors;
  (7) the driver or center's nurse does not leave a minor
unattended in the vehicle at any time;
  (8) the driver or the center's nurse riding in the
vehicle inspects the vehicle at the completion of each trip to ensure
that no minor is left in the vehicle; and
  (9) the center maintains documentation that includes
the signature of the individual conducting the inspection described
in paragraph (8) of this subsection and the time of inspection.
(e) A center must post near the emergency exit of each
vehicle that transports a minor the following information in an easily
readable font:
  (1) the name of the administrator;
  (2) the center's name;
  (3) the center's telephone number; and
  (4) the center's address.
(f) The center must adopt and enforce a policy on emergencies
while transporting a minor. The policy must include:
  (1) procedures for mechanical break downs;
  (2) procedures for vehicle accidents; and
  (3) procedures for a minor's emergency.
(g) If a center conducts a field trip, the center must
ensure that the driver or center's nurse riding in the vehicle must
inspect the vehicle and account for each minor upon arrival and departure
from each destination to ensure that no minor is left in the vehicle
after reaching the vehicle's final destination.
  (1) A center must ensure that the driver or center's
nurse riding in the vehicle maintains a field trip record for each
trip. The record must include the driver's name, the nurse's name,
the time and date, the vehicle's destinations, and names of all passengers
in the vehicle.
  (2) A center must maintain documentation that includes
the signature of the person conducting the inspection and the time
of each inspection during the field trip.
  (3) Appropriate staff must be present when a minor
is delivered to the center.


Source Note: The provisions of this §15.1102 adopted to be effective September 1, 2014, 39 TexReg 6569