HBA-EDN H.B. 3160 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3160 By: Bonnen Transportation 4/27/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Motor vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children 14 years of age and younger. Child safety seats and safety belts when used properly can prevent injury and save the lives of children. Under current law, failure to secure a child younger than four years of age or failure to require a child younger than 15 years of age to be secured by a safety belt while operating a motor vehicle is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of not less than $25 and not more than $50. House Bill 3160 provides that these offenses are punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000 if the offense results in serious bodily injury to or death of a child. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 3160 amends the Transportation Code to provide that the following offenses are punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000 if the offense results in serious bodily injury to or death of a child: _transporting a child younger than two years of age in a passenger car or light truck and failing to keep the child secured during the operation of the vehicle in a child passenger safety seat system; _transporting a child who is at least two years of age but younger than four in a passenger car or light truck and failing to keep the child secured during the operation of the vehicle in a child passenger safety seat system or by a safety belt; and _allowing a child who is at least four years of age but younger than 15 to ride in a passenger car or light truck equipped with safety belts without requiring the child to be secured by a safety belt. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.