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  89R3639 AJZ-D     By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 723       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to school bus monitoring systems and the required   reporting of certain offenses recorded by those systems.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 542, Transportation Code,   is amended by adding Section 542.207 to read as follows:           Sec.   542.207.     REQUIRED INSTALLATION OF SCHOOL BUS   MONITORING SYSTEMS; USE OF SYSTEM IMAGES FOR ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN   OFFENSES. (a) In this section, "school bus monitoring system"   means a camera installed on a school bus for the purpose of   detecting violations described by Section 545.066.           (b)     A local authority or school district shall install a   school bus monitoring system on each school bus owned or operated by   the authority or district and used for the purpose of transporting   students to or from school or a school-sponsored or school-related   activity.           (c)     A local authority or school district may contract for   the installation of a school bus monitoring system.           (d)  A local authority or school district shall immediately:                 (1)     report to a local law enforcement agency an   offense under Section 545.066 or an offense under Title 5, 6, or 9,   Penal Code, that is captured by a recorded image produced by a   school bus monitoring system; and                 (2)     provide recorded images described by Subdivision   (1) to the law enforcement agency.           (e)     A recorded image described by Subsection (d) may be used   as evidence in a proceeding for an offense described by that   subsection.           (f)     Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a   local authority or school district that implemented a school bus   monitoring system before September 1, 2025, is not required to   comply with this section.          SECTION 2.  Section 707.020(a), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  Notwithstanding any other law, except as provided by   Section 542.207, a local authority may not implement or operate a   photographic traffic signal enforcement system with respect to a   highway or street under the jurisdiction of the authority.          SECTION 3.  Section 707.021, Transportation Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 707.021.  USE OF EVIDENCE FROM PHOTOGRAPHIC TRAFFIC   SIGNAL ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM PROHIBITED. Notwithstanding any other   law, except as provided by Section 542.207, a local authority may   not issue a civil or criminal charge or citation for an offense or   violation based on a recorded image produced by a photographic   traffic signal enforcement system.          SECTION 4.  Notwithstanding Section 542.207, Transportation   Code, as added by this Act, a local authority or school district is   not required to comply with that section before September 1, 2027.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.