BILL NUMBER: AB 2667 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2010
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Hill
FEBRUARY 19, 2010
An act to amend Section 153 of the Business and
Professions Code, relating to the Department of Consumer Affairs
27363.5 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles
.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2667, as amended, Hill. Department of Consumer
Affairs. Vehicles: child passenger restraint systems.
(1) Existing law requires a public or private hospital, clinic, or
birthing center, at the time of discharge of a child who is less
than 6 years of age or who weighs less than 60 pounds, to provide and
discuss information on the current law requiring child passenger
restraint systems with the parents or the person to whom the child is
released.
This bill would additionally require a public or private hospital,
clinic, or birthing center, at the time the child is discharged, to
discuss information on where, and at no cost, the child passenger
restraint system can be inspected and proper installation instruction
can be given, by providing appropriate contact information,
including, among other things, the telephone number of the local
office of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. Because
this bill would expand an existing crime, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.
(2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
Under existing law, the Department of Consumer Affairs is
comprised of various regulatory boards and is under the control of
the Director of Consumer Affairs. Existing law authorizes the
director to investigate the work of these boards and to obtain copies
of specified records and data in their possession.
This bill would make a nonsubstantive, technical change to that
provision.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no
yes . State-mandated local program: no
yes .
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares the
following:
(a) Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of
children, 3 to 14 years of age.
(b) Many of these deaths can be prevented through the proper use
of child safety seats.
(c) According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), child safety seats can reduce fatal injury by
71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers, 1 to 4 years
of age.
(d) Unfortunately, according to a recent study, over 90 percent of
parents and caregivers believe their child safety seats are
installed correctly, but NHTSA research shows that seven out of 10
children are improperly restrained, putting them at risk for serious
injury or death in a crash.
SEC. 2. Section 27363.5 of the Vehicle
Code is amended to read:
27363.5. (a) Every A public or
private hospital, clinic, or birthing center ,
shall, at the time of the discharge of a child , provide
to and discuss information with
the parent or person to whom the child is released, the following:
(1) Information on the current
law requiring child passenger restraint systems to the
parents or the person to whom the child is released when
.
(2) Information on where, and at no cost, the child passenger
restraint system can be inspected and proper installation instruction
can be given, by providing appropriate contact information. This
contact information may include, but is not limited to.
(A) To find a nearby location, call 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or visit
www.seatcheck.org.
(B) The telephone number of the local office of the Department of
the California Highway Patrol.
(C) The Internet Web site for the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration's Child Safety Seat Inspection Station Locator.
(b) Subdivision (a) applies when
at least one of the following conditions is met:
(1) The child is less than six years of age.
(2) The child weighs less than 60 pounds.
(b)
(c) A public or private hospital, clinic, or birthing
center shall not be responsible for the failure of the parent or
person to whom the child is released to use a child passenger
restraint system.
(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2002.
SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act
pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local
agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a
new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or
changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of
Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a
crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the
California Constitution.
SECTION 1. Section 153 of the Business and
Professions Code is amended to read:
153. The director may investigate the work of the several boards
in his or her department and may obtain a copy of all records and
full and complete data in all official matters in possession of the
boards, their members, officers, or employees, other than examination
questions prior to submission to applicants at scheduled
examinations.