BILL NUMBER: AB 2667	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 28, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 6, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 8, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hill

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2010

   An act to amend Section 27363.5 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2667, as amended, Hill. 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.  The bill would also clarify
that a hospital is to provide the specified information only one time
per child. 
   (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.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: 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) A public or private hospital, clinic, or birthing
center shall, at the time of the discharge of a child, provide to and
discuss with the parent or person to whom the child is released, the
following:
   (1)  Information on the current law requiring child passenger
restraint systems.
   (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, the
following:
   (A) Call 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or visit www.seatcheck.org to find a
nearby location.
   (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.
    (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.

   (d) A public or private hospital, clinic, or birthing center shall
be responsible for providing the information required in subdivision
(a) only one time per child as described in subdivision (b).

  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.