Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2656 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	86R9129 AJZ-D
2	2	By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 2656
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the authority of a school district to implement a school
8	8	bus monitoring system that records images of vehicles that pass a
9	9	stopped school bus; authorizing a civil penalty.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Chapter 545, Transportation Code, is amended by
12	12	adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
13	13	SUBCHAPTER K. SCHOOL BUS MONITORING SYSTEM
14	14	Sec. 545.501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
15	15	(1) "Owner of a motor vehicle" means the owner of a
16	16	motor vehicle as shown on the motor vehicle registration records of
17	17	the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or the analogous department
18	18	or agency of another state or country.
19	19	(2) "School bus monitoring system" means a system
20	20	authorized by Section 547.701(b)(3).
21	21	Sec. 545.502. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTY. (a) The
22	22	board of trustees of a school district by resolution may provide
23	23	that the owner of a motor vehicle is liable to the school district
24	24	for a civil penalty if the vehicle passes a school bus in violation
25	25	of Section 545.066. The resolution must establish the amount of the
26	26	civil penalty.
27	27	(b) A school district may impose a civil penalty under this
28	28	section on the owner of a motor vehicle based solely on a
29	29	photographic image of the vehicle that:
30	30	(1) was taken by a camera installed on the school bus
31	31	for the purpose of detecting violations of Section 545.066;
32	32	(2) includes the vehicle's license plate; and
33	33	(3) shows the vehicle violating Section 545.066.
34	34	(c) A school district is entitled to all of the proceeds of
35	35	the civil penalties collected by the school district under this
36	36	section.
37	37	(d) Civil penalties collected under this section may be used
38	38	by a school district to cover the cost of installing, operating, and
39	39	maintaining the school bus monitoring system.
40	40	Sec. 545.503. OPERATION OF SCHOOL BUS MONITORING SYSTEM.
41	41	(a) A school district that implements a school bus monitoring
42	42	system under this subchapter may contract for the installation,
43	43	operation, administration, or enforcement of the system.
44	44	(b) All images and data produced from a school bus
45	45	monitoring system under this subchapter shall be destroyed not
46	46	later than the seventh day after the date of collection unless the
47	47	image or data is evidence in a civil proceeding under this
48	48	subchapter. Images or data used in a civil proceeding under this
49	49	subchapter shall be destroyed not later than the first anniversary
50	50	of the date of collection.
51	51	SECTION 2. Section 547.701(b), Transportation Code, is
52	52	amended to read as follows:
53	53	(b) A school bus may be equipped with:
54	54	(1) rooftop warning lamps:
55	55	(A) that conform to and are placed on the bus in
56	56	accordance with specifications adopted under Section 34.002,
57	57	Education Code; and
58	58	(B) that are operated under rules adopted by the
59	59	school district; [and]
60	60	(2) movable stop arms:
61	61	(A) that conform to regulations adopted under
62	62	Section 34.002, Education Code; and
63	63	(B) that may be operated only when the bus is
64	64	stopped to load or unload students; and
65	65	(3) a monitoring system that:
66	66	(A) is capable of taking photographic,
67	67	electronic, video, or digital images of vehicles that pass the bus
68	68	for the purpose of detecting violations of Section 545.066;
69	69	(B) conforms to regulations adopted under
70	70	Section 34.002, Education Code; and
71	71	(C) may be operated only when the bus is stopped
72	72	on a highway to load or unload students.
73	73	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.