Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 202, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require that all children four years of age or older but less than eight years of age and under eighty pounds be restrained in a child safety seat or a booster seat when traveling in an automobile.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Honolulu Police Department, Maui Police Department, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.

Your Committee finds that many children between the ages of four and eight lack the physical development necessary to receive adequate protection from a standard seat belt. These children should be placed either in a safety seat or a booster seat in order to be protected in the event of an accident.

Current law does not specify a weight requirement. Your Committee finds that both age and weight requirements are necessary to allow for variances in the size of the child irrespective of age. Based on testimony received at the hearing on this measure, your Committee finds that there are several models of approved booster seats available that are designed for children up to sixty pounds and that can be installed using only a lap belt. Testimony also indicated that approved booster seats can be bought for as little as $17.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 202, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.