[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 597 Introduced in House (IH)]
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 Representatives 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:
``Sec. 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 vehicle 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 appropriate restraint system in
accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer of such
seat or system.
``(2) Child safety seat.--The term `child safety seat'
means a specially designed seating system (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 amended
from time to time, and which is either permanently affixed to a
passenger motor vehicle or is affixed to a passenger motor
vehicle by a safety belt or a universal attachment system.
``(3) Motor vehicle.--The term `motor vehicle' 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 special features for occasional off-road
operation.
``(5) Passenger car.--The term `passenger car' means a
motor vehicle with motive power (except a multipurpose
passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or trailer) designed to carry
not more than 10 individuals.
``(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 occupant restraint
system consisting of a lap belt or a lap belt and a
detachable shoulder belt meeting applicable Federal
motor vehicle safety standards; and
``(B) with respect to other passenger motor
vehicles, an occupant restraint system consisting of
integrated lap and shoulder belts meeting applicable
Federal motor vehicle standards.
``(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 statewide
comprehensive child and other passenger protection education
program to promote child and other passenger safety, including
education programs 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 paragraph (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 paragraph (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 paragraph (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.
``(d) Derivation of Amount To Be Transferred.--The amount to be
transferred under subsection (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(3), or (b)(4) may be
derived from 1 or more of the following:
``(1) The apportionment of the State under section
104(b)(1).
``(2) The apportionment of the State under section
104(b)(3).
``(3) The apportionment of the State under section
104(b)(4).
``(f) Transfer of Obligation Authority.--
``(1) In general.--If the Secretary transfers under this
section any funds to the apportionment of a State under section
402 for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall transfer an amount,
determined under paragraph (2), of obligation authority
distributed for the fiscal year to the State for Federal-aid
highways and highway safety construction programs for carrying
out projects under section 402.
``(2) Amount.--The amount of obligation authority referred
to in paragraph (1) shall be determined by multiplying--
``(A) the amount of funds transferred under this
section to the apportionment of the State under section
402 for the fiscal year; by
``(B) the ratio that--
``(i) the amount of obligation authority
distributed for the fiscal year to the State
for Federal-aid highways and highway safety
construction programs; bears to
``(ii) the total of the sums apportioned to
the State for Federal-aid highways and highway
safety construction programs (excluding sums
not subject to any obligation limitation) for
the fiscal year.
``(g) Limitation on Applicability of Obligation Limitation.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no limitation on the total
of obligations for highway safety programs under section 402 shall
apply to funds transferred under this section to the apportionment of a
State under such section.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for such subchapter is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``165. Use of safety belts and child restraint systems by children.''.
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