| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the authority of a school district to implement a school |
|
|
bus monitoring system that records images of vehicles that pass a |
|
|
stopped school bus; authorizing a civil penalty. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 545, Transportation Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subchapter K to read as follows: |
|
|
SUBCHAPTER K. SCHOOL BUS MONITORING SYSTEM |
|
|
Sec. 545.501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
|
|
(1) "Owner of a motor vehicle" means the owner of a |
|
|
motor vehicle as shown on the motor vehicle registration records of |
|
|
the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or the analogous department |
|
|
or agency of another state or country. |
|
|
(2) "School bus monitoring system" means a system |
|
|
authorized by Section 547.701(b)(3). |
|
|
Sec. 545.502. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTY. (a) The |
|
|
board of trustees of a school district by resolution may provide |
|
|
that the owner of a motor vehicle is liable to the school district |
|
|
for a civil penalty if the vehicle passes a school bus in violation |
|
|
of Section 545.066. The resolution must establish the amount of the |
|
|
civil penalty. |
|
|
(b) A school district may impose a civil penalty under this |
|
|
section on the owner of a motor vehicle based solely on a |
|
|
photographic image of the vehicle that: |
|
|
(1) was taken by a camera installed on the school bus |
|
|
for the purpose of detecting violations of Section 545.066; |
|
|
(2) includes the vehicle's license plate; and |
|
|
(3) shows the vehicle violating Section 545.066. |
|
|
(c) A school district is entitled to all of the proceeds of |
|
|
the civil penalties collected by the school district under this |
|
|
section. |
|
|
(d) Civil penalties collected under this section may be used |
|
|
by a school district to cover the cost of installing, operating, and |
|
|
maintaining the school bus monitoring system. |
|
|
Sec. 545.503. OPERATION OF SCHOOL BUS MONITORING SYSTEM. |
|
|
(a) A school district that implements a school bus monitoring |
|
|
system under this subchapter may contract for the installation, |
|
|
operation, administration, or enforcement of the system. |
|
|
(b) All images and data produced from a school bus |
|
|
monitoring system under this subchapter shall be destroyed not |
|
|
later than the seventh day after the date of collection unless the |
|
|
image or data is evidence in a civil proceeding under this |
|
|
subchapter. Images or data used in a civil proceeding under this |
|
|
subchapter shall be destroyed not later than the first anniversary |
|
|
of the date of collection. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 547.701(b), Transportation Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) A school bus may be equipped with: |
|
|
(1) rooftop warning lamps: |
|
|
(A) that conform to and are placed on the bus in |
|
|
accordance with specifications adopted under Section 34.002, |
|
|
Education Code; and |
|
|
(B) that are operated under rules adopted by the |
|
|
school district; [and] |
|
|
(2) movable stop arms: |
|
|
(A) that conform to regulations adopted under |
|
|
Section 34.002, Education Code; and |
|
|
(B) that may be operated only when the bus is |
|
|
stopped to load or unload students; and |
|
|
(3) a monitoring system that: |
|
|
(A) is capable of taking photographic, |
|
|
electronic, video, or digital images of vehicles that pass the bus |
|
|
for the purpose of detecting violations of Section 545.066; |
|
|
(B) conforms to regulations adopted under |
|
|
Section 34.002, Education Code; and |
|
|
(C) may be operated only when the bus is stopped |
|
|
on a highway to load or unload students. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |