I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 597
To amend title 23, United States Code, relating to the use of safety belts
and child restraint systems by children, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 13, 2001
Mr. PALLONE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, relating to the use
of safety belts and child restraint systems by children,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. USE OF SAFETY BELTS AND CHILD RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS BY CHILDREN.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 1 of title
23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘§ 165. Use of safety belts and child restraint systems
by children
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following
definitions apply:
‘‘(1) CHILD
SAFETY
RESTRAINT
LAW.—The
term ‘child safety restraint law’ means a State law
that prohibits the driver of a passenger motor vehi-
cle from driving the vehicle whenever there is in the
vehicle a child under the age of 16 who does not
have a safety belt properly fastened about the child’s
body, except if the child is under the age of 9 and
is properly secured in a child safety seat or other ap-
propriate restraint system in accordance with the in-
structions of the manufacturer of such seat or sys-
tem.
‘‘(2) CHILD
SAFETY
SEAT.—The term ‘child
safety seat’ means a specially designed seating sys-
tem (including booster and child safety seats) which
meets the Federal motor vehicle safety standards set
forth in section 571.213 of title 49 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, as such section may be amend-
ed from time to time, and which is either perma-
nently affixed to a passenger motor vehicle or is af-
fixed to a passenger motor vehicle by a safety belt
or a universal attachment system.
‘‘(3) MOTOR VEHICLE.—The term ‘motor vehi-
cle’ means a vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical
power and manufactured primarily for use on public
streets, roads, and highways, but does not include a
vehicle operated only on a rail line.
‘‘(4) MULTIPURPOSE
PASSENGER
VEHICLE.—
The term ‘multipurpose passenger vehicle’ means a
motor vehicle with motive power (except a trailer),
designed to carry not more than 10 individuals, that
is constructed either on a truck chassis or with spe-
cial features for occasional off-road operation.
‘‘(5) PASSENGER
CAR.—The term ‘passenger
car’ means a motor vehicle with motive power (ex-
cept a multipurpose passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or
trailer) designed to carry not more than 10 individ-
uals.
‘‘(6) PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE.—The term
‘passenger motor vehicle’ means a passenger car or
a multipurpose passenger vehicle.
‘‘(7) SAFETY
BELT.—The term ‘safety belt’
means—
‘‘(A) with respect to open-body passenger
motor vehicles, including convertibles, an occu-
pant restraint system consisting of a lap belt or
a lap belt and a detachable shoulder belt meet-
ing applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards; and
‘‘(B) with respect to other passenger motor
vehicles, an occupant restraint system con-
sisting of integrated lap and shoulder belts
meeting applicable Federal motor vehicle stand-
ards.
‘‘(b) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—
‘‘(1) FISCAL YEAR 2005.—On October 1, 2004,
if a State has not enacted a child safety restraint
law, the Secretary shall transfer an amount equal to
4 percent of the funds apportioned to the State on
that date under each of paragraphs (1), (3), and (4)
of section 104(b) to the apportionment of the State
under section 402 to be used to implement a state-
wide comprehensive child and other passenger pro-
tection education program to promote child and
other passenger safety, including education pro-
grams about proper seating positions for children in
air bag equipped motor vehicles and instruction that
increases the proper use of child restraint systems.
‘‘(2) FISCAL YEAR 2006.—On October 1, 2005,
if a State has not enacted a child safety restraint
law, the Secretary shall transfer an amount equal to
6 percent of the funds apportioned to the State on
that date under each of paragraphs (1), (3), and (4)
of section 104(b) to the apportionment of the State
under section 402 to be used as described in para-
graph (1) of this subsection.
‘‘(3) FISCAL YEAR 2007.—On October 1, 2006,
if a State has not enacted a child safety restraint
law, the Secretary shall transfer an amount equal to
8 percent of the funds apportioned to the State on
that date under each of paragraphs (1), (3), and (4)
of section 104(b) to the apportionment of the State
under section 402 to be used as described in para-
graph (1) of this subsection.
‘‘(4) FISCAL YEAR 2008 AND THEREAFTER.—On
October 1, 2007, and each October 1 thereafter, if
a State has not enacted a child safety restraint law,
the Secretary shall transfer an amount equal to 10
percent of the funds apportioned to the State on
that date under each of paragraphs (1), (3), and (4)
of section 104(b) to the apportionment of the State
under section 402 to be used as described in para-
graph (1) of this subsection.
‘‘(c) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the
cost of a project carried out with funds transferred under
subsection (b) shall be 100 percent.