STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2011

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 152

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, 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 and intent of this measure is to:

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

(2) Require rear-facing child safety seats for children under two years of age;

(3) Repeal exceptions for 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, Hawai‘i Police Department, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, and Kapi‘olani Medical Center.

Your Committee finds that existing motor vehicle laws lack any requirement that children of any age be restrained in a rear facing child safety seat. Your Committee further finds that motor vehicle injuries continue to be a leading cause of death for Hawai‘i's children and youth. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, infants and toddlers need to be in a rear‑facing car safety seat until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the seat. Your Committee also finds that sixteen states have requirements that children under the age of two be rear-facing. This measure aligns Hawai‘i law with other jurisdictions that protect children under the age of two by requiring that they be restrained in a rear-facing child safety seat.

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. 152 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair