Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 1119	Senate Author:  Carona
Effective:  9-1-07	House Sponsor:  Murphy et al.

            Senate Bill 1119 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a local governmental entity to implement a photographic traffic signal enforcement system to detect red light violations at certain intersections.  The bill sets out provisions for the installation and operation of the enforcement system.  It prohibits a local authority that contracts for the administration and enforcement of the system from agreeing to pay the contractor a specified percentage or dollar amount from each penalty collected.  Signs indicating the presence of a photographic monitoring system at an intersection must be installed along each approach to the intersection.  The bill creates an offense if a person uses the enforcement system to produce a recorded image for a purpose other than detecting a violation of a traffic-control signal.  The bill sets forth requirements for notification of a violation, hearing and appeal processes, and the maximum penalties for a violation.

            Senate Bill 1119 amends the Health and Safety Code to create the regional trauma account as a dedicated account in the general revenue fund.  The bill requires 50 percent of the revenue from penalties imposed through use of a red light traffic enforcement system to be deposited into the  account and appropriated only for distributions to trauma service area regional advisory councils to fund uncompensated care.  Remaining revenue may be used only to fund traffic safety programs, public safety programs, intersection improvements, and traffic enforcement, and to cover certain costs of the enforcement system.