STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1226-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 152

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 152 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) Require rear-facing child safety seats for children under two years of age;

(2) Amend requirements for the restraint of child passengers;

(3) Repeal exceptions for child passenger restraint compliance; and

(4) Increase certain fines for violations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Honolulu Police Department, and Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that infants and toddlers need to be in a rear‑facing child safety seat until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the seat. However, existing motor vehicle laws lack any requirement that children of any age be restrained in a rear-facing child safety seat. This measure ensures the use of age and size appropriate car seats, booster seats, and seat belts for children in motor vehicles.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing references to "child seat" and "child safety seat" to "child passenger restraint system with harness that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards at the time of manufacture";

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 152, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 152, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair