HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESB 5879

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to child passenger restraint systems.

Brief Description:  Conforming state law on child passenger restraint systems to the Uniform Vehicle Code.

Sponsors:  Senators A. Smith, Spanel, Deccio and Winsley.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, March 31, 1993, DPA;

Passed House - Amended, April 15, 1993, 94-4;

House Receded;

Passed Legislature, April 22, 1993, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 25 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brough; Brumsickle; Eide; Finkbeiner; Forner; Fuhrman; Hansen; Heavey; Horn; Johanson; J. Kohl; Miller; H. Myers; Orr; Patterson; Quall; Sheldon; Shin; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative R. Meyers.

Staff:  Jennifer Joly (786-7305).

Background:  Children who are under one year of age are required to be restrained in a separate child passenger restraint device.  Children that are one year of age through four years of age may be restrained with a properly adjusted and fastened, federally approved seat belt.

There is concern that seat belts do not provide adequate protection to children under four years of age.

Summary of Bill:  A child who is less than two years old is required to be restrained in a child restraint system that is in compliance with the United States Department of Transportation standards.  The child restraint system must be secured in the vehicle according to instructions from the manufacturer of the child restraint system.

A child who is less than six years old but at least two years old is required to be restrained either in a child restraint system as described above or with a safety belt properly fastened around the child's body.  

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Seat belts do not adequately protect children under 40 pounds.  During an accident, their bodies either slip under or over the seat belt and serious injuries have resulted.  This bill conforms to the federal vehicle code.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Susie Tracy, Washington State Medical Association; Dr. Abe Bergman, Washington State Medical Association; Kathy Williams, Washington State Department of Health; Tim Erickson, Washington State Patrol; Steve Lind, Washington Traffic Safety Commission; and Kathryn Kruger, Safety Restraint Coalition.