As Austin prepares for red-light camera enforcement, whether the revenue will wind up where lawmakers intended is still an open question.

State lawmakers decided in the 2007 session to divide up revenue from red light runners. Half the money would be kept by cities, the other half of the fine money would be dedicated to emergency rooms and regional trauma care centers.

"In other words, a way to fund healthcare, particularly fund healthcare that is at least arguably related to traffic type of injuries," said State Senator Kirk Watson, D-Austin.

But as it turns out, the money isn't getting to the ER's -- it's just sitting in a state fund.

"There was no provision made in the budget for that purpose, so for this fiscal year, that's not happening," said R.J. DeSilva, spokesman for the Comptroller's Office.

Until lawmakers set up the mechanism to send the money from the regional trauma fund to specific trauma centers, Austin's red light revenue won't get to places like Brackenridge Hospital, which loses millions in treating uninsured patients.

"That's really a shame. Because the trauma care centers in this state are in a crisis," said Dr. Todd Maxson, head of the trauma unit at Dell Children's Medical Center. "They're absolutely struggling with the degree and the amount of unfunded care that they're providing."

Senator Watson said changes could come next session.

"We need to hold the legislative leadership to those promises," he said.