STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 927-20
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2020
RE: H.B. No. 2004
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2020
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2004, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINTS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Raise the maximum age of a child passenger required to be restrained to ten years old from eight years old;
(2) Amend the child passenger restraint requirements for children at various age ranges;
(3) Repeal the exemption from child passenger restraint requirements for vehicles with fewer seat belt assemblies than the number of passengers; and
(4) Increase the fines for violations.
Your Committee finds that traffic accidents continue to be a leading cause of death for Hawaii's children and youth. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, infants and toddlers should ride in rear-facing car safety seats as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their seats. Your Committee further finds that rear-facing child safety seats spread crash forces over the whole area of a child's back, head, and neck, protecting the spinal cord from snapping, which can lead to death or permanent severe injury. This measure will help protect Hawaii's keiki from injury should they be in a car accident.
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 H.B. No. 2004, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
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____________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair |
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