HBA-NRS S.B. 1367 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1367
By: Van de Putte
Transportation
5/16/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 1999, 202 children from birth through age 14 were killed as a result of
traffic collisions in Texas, an increase of 27 deaths over 1998. Even
though Texas has child occupant restraint laws covering this age group,
more than half of the children killed were riding unrestrained. Senate Bill
1367 provides that a person commits an offense if the person transports a
child who is younger than 5 years of age and less than 36 inches in height
and does not keep the child secured in a child passenger safety seat
system, and provides for similar offenses if a child under 15 years of age
is transported without being secured in a safety belt. 

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

Senate Bill 1367 amends the Transportation Code to provide that a person
commits an offense if the person operates a passenger car or light truck
that transports a child who is younger than five years of age and less than
36 inches in height, and does not keep the child secured in a child
passenger safety seat system according to the instructions of the
manufacturer of the safety seat system. The bill provides that a person
commits an offense if the person operates a passenger car or light truck
equipped with safety belts and allows a child who is at least five years of
age but younger than 15 years of age, or who is younger than five years of
age and at least 36 inches in height to ride in the vehicle without being
secured by a safety belt, provided that the child is occupying a seat
equipped with a safety belt. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.