Josue Flores Act: Texas Fund Designed to Provide Child School Transportation Has Been Unused Since 2017

In 2017, Texas lawmakers passed the Josué Flores Act to give more money to school districts to create transportation options for students at high risk of violence when walking to school.

Following the Houston Chronicle’s report, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, who introduced the bill in 2016, confirmed not a single county in the state asked for money. The Josué Flores Act was designed to provide transportation options for children in need in honor of 11-year-old Josué Flores, who was stabbed to death while walking home from Marshall Middle School. in 2016.

“Children are still at risk when they walk to and from school,” Garcia said last week.

RELATED: 5 years later and the family of an 11-year-old boy who was stabbed to death while walking home is still looking for justice

Community groups, like Safe Walk Home, say funding will allow them to buy shuttles or buses.

“It’s frustrating to know it’s there. The bill is there. We just need help,” said Stella Walters from Safe Walk Home. “We’ve gone to great lengths to support, appeal, write letters, and involve the school, the community, and why isn’t it working? Why is it being neglected? Pushed where?”

Houston Independent School District officials said they are currently working with traffic and law enforcement experts on the proposal.

RELATED: A boy walking home from school was attacked by a stray dog ​​in northern Harris County, authorities say

Years after action was taken, the question is – when will these children actually get help?

Walters said, “We don’t give up. It has to work for this community. It has to do.”

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