Florida Senate - 2010 SB 294
By Senator Bennett
21-00428A-10 2010294__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to uniform traffic control; creating
3 the “Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act”; amending s.
4 316.003, F.S.; defining the term “traffic infraction
5 detector”; creating s. 316.0083, F.S.; creating the
6 Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Program to be administered
7 by the Department of Transportation; requiring a
8 county or municipality to enact an ordinance in order
9 to use a traffic infraction detector to identify a
10 motor vehicle that fails to stop at a traffic control
11 signal steady red light; requiring such detectors to
12 meet department contract specifications; requiring
13 authorization of a traffic infraction enforcement
14 officer or a code enforcement officer to issue and
15 enforce a ticket for such violation; requiring
16 signage; requiring certain public awareness
17 procedures; requiring the ordinance to establish a
18 fine of a certain amount; requiring the ordinance to
19 provide for installing, maintaining, and operating
20 such detectors on rights-of-way owned or maintained by
21 the department, county, or municipality; prohibiting
22 additional charges; exempting emergency vehicles;
23 providing that the registered owner of the motor
24 vehicle involved in the violation is responsible and
25 liable for payment of the fine assessed; providing
26 exceptions; providing procedures for disposition and
27 enforcement of tickets; providing for a person to
28 contest such ticket; providing for disposition of
29 revenue collected; providing complaint procedures;
30 providing for the Legislature to exclude a county or
31 municipality from the program; requiring reports from
32 participating municipalities and counties to the
33 department; requiring the department to make reports
34 to the Governor and the Legislature; amending s.
35 316.0745, F.S.; providing that traffic infraction
36 detectors must meet certain specifications; creating
37 s. 316.07456, F.S.; providing for preexisting
38 equipment; requiring counties and municipalities that
39 enacted an ordinance to enforce red light violations
40 or entered into a contract to purchase or lease
41 equipment to enforce red light violations before the
42 effective date of this act to charge a certain penalty
43 amount; requiring counties or municipalities that have
44 acquired such equipment pursuant to an agreement
45 entered into before the effective date of this act to
46 make certain payments to the state; providing for
47 future expiration of such provisions; creating s.
48 316.0776, F.S.; providing for placement and
49 installation of detectors on the State Highway System,
50 county roads, and city streets; amending s. 316.1967,
51 F.S.; providing for inclusion of persons with
52 outstanding violations in a list sent to the
53 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for
54 enforcement purposes; amending s. 395.4036, F.S.;
55 providing for distribution of funds to trauma centers,
56 certain hospitals, certain nursing homes, and certain
57 health units and programs, to be used for specified
58 purposes; correcting a cross-reference; ratifying
59 prior enforcement actions; providing for severability;
60 providing an effective date.
61
62 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
63
64 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Mark Wandall
65 Traffic Safety Act.”
66 Section 2. Subsection (86) is added to section 316.003,
67 Florida Statutes, to read:
68 316.003 Definitions.—The following words and phrases, when
69 used in this chapter, shall have the meanings respectively
70 ascribed to them in this section, except where the context
71 otherwise requires:
72 (86) TRAFFIC INFRACTION DETECTOR.—A vehicle sensor
73 installed to work in conjunction with a traffic control signal
74 and a camera or cameras synchronized to automatically record two
75 or more sequenced photographic or electronic images or streaming
76 video of only the rear of a motor vehicle at the time the
77 vehicle fails to stop behind the stop bar or clearly marked stop
78 line when facing a traffic control signal steady red light. Any
79 ticket issued by the use of a traffic infraction detector must
80 include a photograph or other recorded image showing both the
81 license tag of the offending vehicle and the traffic control
82 device being violated.
83 Section 3. Section 316.0083, Florida Statutes, is created
84 to read:
85 316.0083 Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Program;
86 administration; report.—
87 (1) There is created the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety
88 Program governing the operation of traffic infraction detectors.
89 The program shall be administered by the Department of
90 Transportation and shall include the following provisions:
91 (a) In order to use a traffic infraction detector, a county
92 or municipality must enact an ordinance that provides for the
93 use of a traffic infraction detector to enforce s.
94 316.075(1)(c), which requires the driver of a vehicle to stop
95 the vehicle when facing a traffic control signal steady red
96 light on the streets and highways under the jurisdiction of the
97 county or municipality. The traffic infraction detector must
98 conform to the contract specifications adopted by the Department
99 of Transportation under s. 316.0776. A county or municipality
100 may install such detectors on state, county, or municipal
101 rights-of-way within the boundaries of that county or
102 municipality. Only a municipality may install or authorize the
103 installation of any such detectors within the incorporated area
104 of the municipality. A municipality may authorize the state or
105 county to install such detectors within its incorporated area.
106 Only a county may install or authorize the installation of any
107 such detectors within the unincorporated area of the county. A
108 county may authorize the state to install such detectors in the
109 unincorporated area of the county. A county or municipality that
110 operates a traffic infraction detector must authorize a traffic
111 infraction enforcement officer or a code enforcement officer to
112 issue a ticket for a violation of s. 316.075(1)(c) and to
113 enforce the payment of the ticket for such violation. This
114 paragraph does not authorize a traffic infraction enforcement
115 officer or a code enforcement officer to carry a firearm or
116 other weapon and does not authorize such an officer to make
117 arrests. The ordinance must require signs to be posted at
118 locations designated by the county or municipality providing
119 notification that a traffic infraction detector may be in use.
120 Such signage must conform to the specifications adopted by the
121 Department of Transportation under s. 316.0745. The ordinance
122 must provide for the county or municipality to install,
123 maintain, and operate traffic infraction detectors on a right
124 of-way owned or maintained by the Department of Transportation
125 or on a right-of-way owned or maintained by the county or
126 municipality in which the traffic infraction detector is to be
127 installed. The ordinance must also require that the county or
128 municipality make a public announcement and conduct a public
129 awareness campaign of the proposed use of traffic infraction
130 detectors at least 30 days before commencing the enforcement
131 program. In addition, the ordinance must establish a fine of
132 $150 to be assessed against the registered owner of a motor
133 vehicle that fails to stop when facing a traffic control signal
134 steady red light as determined through the use of a traffic
135 infraction detector. Any other provision of law to the contrary
136 notwithstanding, an additional surcharge, fee, or cost may not
137 be added to the civil penalty authorized by this paragraph.
138 (b) When responding to an emergency call, an emergency
139 vehicle is exempt from any ordinance enacted under this section.
140 (c) A county or municipality must adopt an ordinance under
141 this section that provides for the use of a traffic infraction
142 detector in order to impose a fine on the registered owner of a
143 motor vehicle for a violation of s. 316.075(1)(c). The fine
144 shall be imposed in the same manner and is subject to the same
145 limitations as provided for parking violations under s.
146 316.1967. Except as specifically provided in this section,
147 chapter 318 and s. 322.27 do not apply to a violation of s.
148 316.075(1)(c) for which a ticket has been issued under an
149 ordinance enacted pursuant to this section. Enforcement of a
150 ticket issued under the ordinance is not a conviction of the
151 operator of the motor vehicle, may not be made a part of the
152 driving record of the operator, and may not be used for purposes
153 of setting motor vehicle insurance rates. Points under s. 322.27
154 may not be assessed based upon such enforcement.
155 (d) The procedures set forth in s. 316.1967(2)-(5) apply to
156 an ordinance enacted pursuant to this section, except that the
157 ticket must contain the name and address of the person alleged
158 to be liable as the registered owner of the motor vehicle
159 involved in the violation, the tag number of the motor vehicle,
160 the violation charged, a copy of the photographic image or
161 images evidencing the violation, the location where the
162 violation occurred, the date and time of the violation,
163 information that identifies the device that recorded the
164 violation, and a signed statement by a specifically trained
165 technician employed by the agency or its contractor that, based
166 on inspection of photographs or other recorded images, the motor
167 vehicle was being operated in violation of s. 316.075(1)(c). The
168 ticket must advise the registered owner of the motor vehicle
169 involved in the violation of the amount of the fine, the date by
170 which the fine must be paid, and the procedure for contesting
171 the violation alleged in the ticket. The ticket must contain a
172 warning that failure to contest the violation in the manner and
173 time provided is deemed an admission of the liability and that a
174 default may be entered thereon. The violation shall be processed
175 by the county or municipality that has jurisdiction over the
176 street or highway where the violation occurred or by any entity
177 authorized by the county or municipality to prepare and mail the
178 ticket.
179 (e) The ticket shall be sent by first-class mail, addressed
180 to the registered owner of the motor vehicle, and postmarked no
181 later than 30 days after the date of the violation.
182 (f)1. The registered owner of the motor vehicle involved in
183 a violation is responsible and liable for payment of the fine
184 assessed pursuant to this section unless the owner can establish
185 that:
186 a. The motor vehicle passed through the intersection in
187 order to yield right-of-way to an emergency vehicle or as part
188 of a funeral procession;
189 b. The motor vehicle passed through the intersection at the
190 direction of a law enforcement officer;
191 c. The motor vehicle was stolen at the time of the alleged
192 violation;
193 d. The motor vehicle passed through the intersection
194 because the driver was responding to a medical emergency; or
195 e. A uniform traffic citation was issued to the driver of
196 the motor vehicle for the alleged violation of s. 316.075(1)(c).
197 2. In order to establish any such fact, the registered
198 owner of the vehicle must, within 30 days after receipt of
199 notification of the alleged violation, furnish to the county or
200 municipality, as appropriate, an affidavit that sets forth
201 detailed information supporting an exemption under sub
202 subparagraph 1.a., sub-subparagraph 1.b., sub-subparagraph 1.c.,
203 or sub-subparagraph 1.e. For an exemption under sub-subparagraph
204 1.c., the affidavit must set forth that the vehicle was stolen
205 and be accompanied by a copy of the police report indicating
206 that the vehicle was stolen at the time of the alleged
207 violation. For an exemption under sub-subparagraph 1.e., the
208 affidavit must set forth that a citation was issued and be
209 accompanied by a copy of the citation indicating the time of the
210 alleged violation and the location of the intersection where it
211 occurred.
212 (g) A person may contest the determination that such person
213 failed to stop at a traffic control signal steady red light as
214 evidenced by a traffic infraction detector by electing to appear
215 before any judge or hearing officer authorized by law to preside
216 over a hearing that adjudicates traffic infractions. A person
217 who elects to appear before the judge or hearing officer to
218 present evidence is deemed to have waived the limitation of
219 civil penalties imposed for the violation. The judge or hearing
220 officer, after hearing, shall determine whether the violation
221 was committed and may impose a civil penalty not to exceed $150
222 plus costs. The judge or hearing officer may take appropriate
223 measures to enforce the collection of any penalty not paid
224 within the time permitted by the county, municipality, or court.
225 (h) A certificate sworn to or affirmed by a person
226 authorized under this section who is employed by or under
227 contract with the county or municipality where the infraction
228 occurred, or a facsimile thereof that is based upon inspection
229 of photographs or other recorded images produced by a traffic
230 infraction detector, is prima facie evidence of the facts
231 contained in the certificate. A photograph or other recorded
232 image evidencing a violation of s. 316.075(1)(c) must be
233 available for inspection in any proceeding to adjudicate
234 liability under an ordinance enacted pursuant to this section.
235 (i) In any county or municipality in which tickets are
236 issued as provided in this section, the names of persons who
237 have one or more outstanding violations may be included on the
238 list authorized under s. 316.1967(6).
239 (2) Of the fine imposed pursuant to paragraph (1)(a) or
240 paragraph (1)(g), $55 shall be remitted by the county or
241 municipality to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the
242 General Revenue Fund, $20 shall be remitted to the Department of
243 Revenue for deposit into the Department of Health Administrative
244 Trust Fund, and $75 shall be retained by the county or
245 municipality enforcing the ordinance enacted pursuant to this
246 section. Funds deposited into the Department of Health
247 Administrative Trust Fund under this subsection shall be
248 distributed as provided in s. 395.4036(1).
249 (3) A complaint that a county or municipality is employing
250 traffic infraction detectors for purposes other than the
251 promotion of public health, welfare, and safety or in a manner
252 inconsistent with this section may be submitted to the governing
253 body of such county or municipality. Such complaints, along with
254 any investigation and corrective action taken by the county or
255 municipal governing body, shall be included in the annual report
256 to the Department of Transportation and in that department’s
257 annual summary report to the Governor, the President of the
258 Senate, and the Speaker of the House Representatives, as
259 required by this section. Based on its review of the report, the
260 Legislature may exclude a county or municipality from further
261 participation in the program.
262 (4)(a) Each county or municipality that operates a traffic
263 infraction detector shall submit an annual report to the
264 Department of Transportation that details the results of using
265 the traffic infraction detector and the procedures for
266 enforcement.
267 (b) The Department of Transportation shall provide an
268 annual summary report to the Governor, the President of the
269 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
270 regarding the use and operation of traffic infraction detectors
271 under this section. The summary report must include a review of
272 the information submitted to the Department of Transportation by
273 the counties and municipalities and must describe the
274 enhancement of the traffic safety and enforcement programs. The
275 Department of Transportation shall report its recommendations,
276 including any necessary legislation, on or before December 1,
277 2010, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
278 Speaker of the House of Representatives.
279 Section 4. Subsection (6) of section 316.0745, Florida
280 Statutes, is amended to read:
281 316.0745 Uniform signals and devices.—
282 (6) Any system of traffic control devices controlled and
283 operated from a remote location by electronic computers or
284 similar devices must shall meet all requirements established for
285 the uniform system, and, if where such a system affects systems
286 affect the movement of traffic on state roads, the design of the
287 system must shall be reviewed and approved by the Department of
288 Transportation.
289 Section 5. Section 316.07456, Florida Statutes, is created
290 to read:
291 316.07456 Grandfather clause.—
292 (1) Any traffic infraction detector deployed on the streets
293 and highways of the state must meet the contract specifications
294 established by the Department of Transportation and must be
295 tested at regular intervals according to procedures prescribed
296 by that department.
297 (2) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
298 before September 30, 2011, nothing in this act shall prohibit
299 any county or municipality from using red light traffic
300 enforcement devices of any type or from enforcing violations of
301 s. 316.074(1) or s. 316.075(1)(c) or other red light traffic
302 enforcement ordinances if such county or municipality has
303 enacted an ordinance to enforce red light violations or has
304 entered into a contract to purchase or lease equipment to
305 enforce red light violations before the effective date of this
306 act.
307 (3) Counties and municipalities using grandfathered
308 equipment pursuant to subsection (2) shall charge violators a
309 $150 penalty. Of that penalty, $55 shall be remitted by the
310 county or municipality to the Department of Revenue for deposit
311 into the General Revenue Fund, $20 shall be remitted to the
312 Department of Revenue for deposit into the Department of Health
313 Administrative Trust Fund, and $75 shall be retained by the
314 county or municipality. Funds deposited into the Department of
315 Health Administrative Trust Fund under this subsection shall be
316 distributed as provided in s. 395.4036(1)(a) as if such funds
317 had been collected under s. 316.0083.
318 (4) This section expires October 1, 2011.
319 Section 6. Section 316.0776, Florida Statutes, is created
320 to read:
321 316.0776 Traffic infraction detectors; placement and
322 installation.—Placement and installation of traffic infraction
323 detectors is allowed on the State Highway System, county roads,
324 and city streets pursuant to specifications developed by the
325 Department of Transportation, so long as the safety and
326 operation of the road facility is not impaired.
327 Section 7. Section 316.1967, Florida Statutes, is amended
328 to read:
329 316.1967 Liability for payment of parking ticket violations
330 and other parking violations.—
331 (1) The owner of a vehicle is responsible and liable for
332 payment of any parking ticket violation unless the owner can
333 furnish evidence, when required by this subsection, that the
334 vehicle was, at the time of the parking violation, in the care,
335 custody, or control of another person. In such instances, the
336 owner of the vehicle is required, within a reasonable time after
337 notification of the parking violation, to furnish to the
338 appropriate law enforcement authorities an affidavit setting
339 forth the name, address, and driver’s license number of the
340 person who leased, rented, or otherwise had the care, custody,
341 or control of the vehicle. The affidavit submitted under this
342 subsection is admissible in a proceeding charging a parking
343 ticket violation and raises the rebuttable presumption that the
344 person identified in the affidavit is responsible for payment of
345 the parking ticket violation. The owner of a vehicle is not
346 responsible for a parking ticket violation if the vehicle
347 involved was, at the time, stolen or in the care, custody, or
348 control of some person who did not have permission of the owner
349 to use the vehicle. The owner of a leased vehicle is not
350 responsible for a parking ticket violation and is not required
351 to submit an affidavit or the other evidence specified in this
352 section, if the vehicle is registered in the name of the person
353 who leased the vehicle.
354 (2) Any person who is issued a county or municipal parking
355 ticket by a parking enforcement specialist or officer is deemed
356 to be charged with a noncriminal violation and shall comply with
357 the directions on the ticket. If payment is not received or a
358 response to the ticket is not made within the time period
359 specified thereon, the county court or its traffic violations
360 bureau shall notify the registered owner of the vehicle that was
361 cited, or the registered lessee when the cited vehicle is
362 registered in the name of the person who leased the vehicle, by
363 mail to the address given on the motor vehicle registration, of
364 the ticket. Mailing the notice to this address constitutes
365 notification. Upon notification, the registered owner or
366 registered lessee shall comply with the court’s directive.
367 (3) Any person who fails to satisfy the court’s directive
368 waives his or her right to pay the applicable civil penalty.
369 (4) Any person who elects to appear before a designated
370 official to present evidence waives his or her right to pay the
371 civil penalty provisions of the ticket. The official, after a
372 hearing, shall make a determination as to whether a parking
373 violation has been committed and may impose a civil penalty not
374 to exceed $100 or the fine amount designated by county
375 ordinance, plus court costs. Any person who fails to pay the
376 civil penalty within the time allowed by the court is deemed to
377 have been convicted of a parking ticket violation, and the court
378 shall take appropriate measures to enforce collection of the
379 fine.
380 (5) Any provision of subsections (2), (3), and (4) to the
381 contrary notwithstanding, chapter 318 does not apply to
382 violations of county parking ordinances and municipal parking
383 ordinances.
384 (6) Any county or municipality may provide by ordinance
385 that the clerk of the court or the traffic violations bureau
386 shall supply the department with a magnetically encoded computer
387 tape reel or cartridge or send by other electronic means data
388 which is machine readable by the installed computer system at
389 the department, listing persons who have three or more
390 outstanding parking violations, including violations of s.
391 316.1955, or who have one or more outstanding tickets for a
392 violation of a traffic control signal steady red light
393 indication issued pursuant to an ordinance adopted under s.
394 316.0083. Each county shall provide by ordinance that the clerk
395 of the court or the traffic violations bureau shall supply the
396 department with a magnetically encoded computer tape reel or
397 cartridge or send by other electronic means data that is machine
398 readable by the installed computer system at the department,
399 listing persons who have any outstanding violations of s.
400 316.1955 or any similar local ordinance that regulates parking
401 in spaces designated for use by persons who have disabilities.
402 The department shall mark the appropriate registration records
403 of persons who are so reported. Section 320.03(8) applies to
404 each person whose name appears on the list.
405 Section 8. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 395.4036,
406 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
407 395.4036 Trauma payments.—
408 (1) Recognizing the Legislature’s stated intent to provide
409 financial support to the current verified trauma centers and to
410 provide incentives for the establishment of additional trauma
411 centers as part of a system of state-sponsored trauma centers,
412 the department shall use utilize funds collected under ss.
413 316.0083 and s. 318.18 and deposited into the Administrative
414 Trust Fund of the department to ensure the availability and
415 accessibility of trauma and emergency services throughout the
416 state as provided in this subsection.
417 (a) Funds collected under ss. 316.0083 and s. 318.18(15)
418 shall be distributed as follows:
419 1. Eighteen percent of the total funds collected under s.
420 316.0083 and 20 Twenty percent of the total funds collected
421 under s. 318.18(15) during the state fiscal year shall be
422 distributed to verified trauma centers that have a local funding
423 contribution as of December 31. Distribution of funds under this
424 subparagraph shall be based on trauma caseload volume for the
425 most recent calendar year available.
426 2. Thirty-eight percent of the total funds collected under
427 s. 316.0083 and 40 Forty percent of the total funds collected
428 under s. 318.18(15) shall be distributed to verified trauma
429 centers based on trauma caseload volume for the most recent
430 calendar year available. The determination of caseload volume
431 for distribution of funds under this subparagraph shall be based
432 on the department’s Trauma Registry data.
433 3. Thirty-eight percent of the total funds collected under
434 s. 316.0083 and 40 Forty percent of the total funds collected
435 under s. 318.18(15) shall be distributed to verified trauma
436 centers based on severity of trauma patients for the most recent
437 calendar year available. The determination of severity for
438 distribution of funds under this subparagraph shall be based on
439 the department’s International Classification Injury Severity
440 Scores or another statistically valid and scientifically
441 accepted method of stratifying a trauma patient’s severity of
442 injury, risk of mortality, and resource consumption as adopted
443 by the department by rule, weighted based on the costs
444 associated with and incurred by the trauma center in treating
445 trauma patients. The weighting of scores shall be established by
446 the department by rule.
447 4. Three percent of the total funds collected under s.
448 316.0083 shall be distributed to public hospitals that qualify
449 for distributions under s. 409.911(4), that are not verified
450 trauma centers but are located in trauma service areas, as
451 defined under s. 395.402, and that do not have a verified trauma
452 center based on their proportionate number of emergency room
453 visits on an annual basis. The Agency for Health Care
454 Administration shall provide the department with a list of
455 public hospitals and emergency room visits.
456 5. Three percent of the total funds collected under s.
457 316.0083 shall be distributed equally to crisis stabilization
458 units, rural health initiatives, and community-based support
459 programs that provide supports and services for individuals who
460 have sustained a traumatic brain injury.
461 (b) Funds collected under s. 318.18(5)(c) and (20) (19)
462 shall be distributed as follows:
463 1. Thirty percent of the total funds collected shall be
464 distributed to Level II trauma centers operated by a public
465 hospital governed by an elected board of directors as of
466 December 31, 2008.
467 2. Thirty-five percent of the total funds collected shall
468 be distributed to verified trauma centers based on trauma
469 caseload volume for the most recent calendar year available. The
470 determination of caseload volume for distribution of funds under
471 this subparagraph shall be based on the department’s Trauma
472 Registry data.
473 3. Thirty-five percent of the total funds collected shall
474 be distributed to verified trauma centers based on severity of
475 trauma patients for the most recent calendar year available. The
476 determination of severity for distribution of funds under this
477 subparagraph shall be based on the department’s International
478 Classification Injury Severity Scores or another statistically
479 valid and scientifically accepted method of stratifying a trauma
480 patient’s severity of injury, risk of mortality, and resource
481 consumption as adopted by the department by rule, weighted based
482 on the costs associated with and incurred by the trauma center
483 in treating trauma patients. The weighting of scores shall be
484 established by the department by rule.
485 (2) Funds deposited in the department’s Administrative
486 Trust Fund for verified trauma centers may be used to maximize
487 the receipt of federal funds that may be available for such
488 trauma centers and nontrauma center public hospitals.
489 Notwithstanding this section and s. 318.14, distributions to
490 trauma centers may be adjusted in a manner to ensure that total
491 payments to trauma centers represent the same proportional
492 allocation as set forth in this section and s. 318.14. For
493 purposes of this section and s. 318.14, total funds distributed
494 to trauma centers may include revenue from the Administrative
495 Trust Fund and federal funds for which revenue from the
496 Administrative Trust Fund is used to meet state or local
497 matching requirements. Funds collected under ss. 318.14,
498 316.0083, and 318.18 and deposited in the Administrative Trust
499 Fund of the department shall be distributed to trauma centers
500 and nontrauma center public hospitals on a quarterly basis using
501 the most recent calendar year data available. Such data shall
502 not be used for more than four quarterly distributions unless
503 there are extenuating circumstances as determined by the
504 department, in which case the most recent calendar year data
505 available shall continue to be used and appropriate adjustments
506 shall be made as soon as the more recent data becomes available.
507 Section 9. This act recognizes and ratifies any enforcement
508 action taken by a county or municipality using a traffic
509 infraction detector that was installed before the effective date
510 of this act.
511 Section 10. If any provision of this act or its application
512 to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity
513 shall not affect other provisions or applications of this act
514 which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
515 application, and to this end the provisions of this act are
516 severable.
517 Section 11. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.