[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69670-69677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26351]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Innovative Grants to Support Increased Safety Belt Use Rates

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Announcement of grants to support innovative and effective 
projects designed to increase safety belt use rates.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NHTSA announces the sixth year of a grant program under 
section 1403 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
(TEA-21), as extended, to provide funding to States for innovative 
projects to increase safety belt use rates. Consistent with prior 
years, the goal of this program is to increase safety belt use rates 
across the Nation in order to reduce the deaths, injuries, and societal 
costs that result from motor vehicle crashes. Award of funds will be 
based on criteria specified in this Federal Register Notice. This 
Notice solicits applications from the States, the District of Columbia 
and Puerto Rico, through their Governors' Representatives for Highway 
Safety, for funds to be made available in fiscal year (FY) 2005. 
Detailed application instructions are provided in the Application 
Procedure and the Application Contents and Grant Criteria sections of 
this Notice.

DATES: Applications must be received by the appropriate NHTSA Regional 
Office on or before close of business on January 10, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Each State must submit its application to the appropriate 
NHTSA Regional Office, to the attention of the Regional Administrator, 
on or before close of business on January 10, 2005. Addresses of the 
ten Regional Offices are listed in Appendix A.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions relating to this grant 
program should be directed to Janice Hartwill-Miller, Occupant 
Protection Division (NTI-112), Office of Program Development and 
Delivery, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5118, Washington, DC 
20590, by e-mail at [email protected], or by phone 
at (202) 366-2684. Interested applicants are advised that no separate 
application package exists beyond the contents of this announcement.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), Public 
Law 105-178, was signed into law on June 9, 1998. Section 1403 of TEA-
21 contains a safety incentive grant program based on safety belt usage 
rates in the States. Under this program, funds are allocated each 
fiscal year to States that exceed the national average safety belt use 
rate or that improve their State safety belt use rate, based on certain 
required determinations and findings. Section 1403 provides that any 
funds remaining unallocated in a fiscal year after determinations and 
findings related to safety belt use rates have been made are to be used 
to ``make allocations to States to carry out innovative projects to 
promote increased safety belt use rates.'' Pursuant to subsequent 
extensions of TEA-21, this program currently is authorized through May 
31, 2005. Today's Notice solicits applications for funds that may 
become available in FY 2005 under this extension provision.

[[Page 69671]]

Awards will be contingent on the availability of funds in FY 2005 and 
on the continued authorization of this grant program.
    TEA-21 imposes several requirements under the innovative projects 
funding provision. Specifically, to be eligible to receive an 
allocation, a State must develop a plan for innovative projects to 
promote increased safety belt use rates statewide and submit the plan 
to the Secretary of Transportation (by delegation, to NHTSA). NHTSA was 
directed to establish criteria governing the selection of State plans 
for allocation of grant funds and was further directed to ``ensure, to 
the maximum extent practicable, demographic and geographic diversity 
and a diversity of safety belt use rates among the States selected for 
allocations.'' Finally, subject to the availability of funds, TEA-21 
provides that the amount of each grant under a State plan should not be 
less than $100,000. However, based on past experience and to maximize 
the program's impact, NHTSA has determined that, subject to the 
availability of funds, no State will receive a grant award of less than 
$250,000.
    In the following sections, the agency describes the application and 
award procedures for receipt of funds under this program for FY 2005. 
This description includes the requirements for content of a State 
proposal and the elements, procedures and criteria the agency will use 
to determine which proposals are eligible for award and the amount of 
each award. Applicants should note that awards are subject to the 
availability of funds, and Congress has to date, appropriated minimal 
funds for this program, through an FY 2005 Continuing Resolution.
    These application and award procedures are built upon the 
experience of the past several years. They are designed to make the 
process as streamlined as possible and, at the same time, to ensure 
that the States use strategies proven to be effective in increasing 
safety belt usage. The award criteria have been designed to support 
States proposing to carry out intensified, statewide programs of high-
visibility enforcement of their safety belt laws, with a paid media 
program supporting the enforcement activities. Experience from many 
States and over several years has shown that such programs can 
substantially increase safety belt use rates in a very short period of 
time and such gains can be sustained.

Objective of This Grant Program

    The objective of this grant program is to increase statewide safety 
belt use rates by supporting strategies and activities with the 
greatest potential for impact.
    To be considered for an award under this program in FY 2005, the 
State must conduct a program of high-visibility enforcement of its 
safety belt law. Further, the proposed program must focus on the 
national Click It or Ticket (CIOT) mobilization, spanning the period 
from Monday, May 9 through Sunday, June 5, 2005. The State's 
participation in that 4-week mobilization must include all of the 
following elements:
    [squ] Earned media (press events, news conferences, etc.) spanning 
the entire 4-week period;
    [squ] A paid media campaign, from Monday, May 16 through Sunday, 
May 29, featuring broadcast advertisements delivering the Click It or 
Ticket message, as its primary focused message or incorporating Click 
It or Ticket as a secondary theme, unless this is prohibited by law or 
Executive Order. Including the CIOT message in all communication pieces 
extends the benefit of national and state advertising funds and ensures 
nationwide branding of the CIOT message during the May Mobilization.
    All media messaging, creative scripts, and ads must be approved by 
NHTSA. States using CIOT as a secondary theme must include prominent 
voice and/or print reference to the National CIOT message in all 
communication pieces (TV, radio, and print). This can be accomplished 
in a visual advertisement by inserting the text, Click It or Ticket, 
immediately following that of the State's primary message, or in the 
case of an audio advertisement, by including voice reference 
immediately following that of the State's primary message. Simply 
attaching the Click It or Ticket logo to a visual advertisement may not 
be sufficiently prominent to meet these requirements. We encourage 
States to submit media messaging plans to NHTSA as early as possible to 
ensure that time is available for any required modifications. (Puerto 
Rico may elect to utilize Spanish-language themes in its 
advertisements, rather than CIOT. Nevertheless, all of the 
Commonwealth's media messaging must be approved by NHTSA.)
    [squ] Intensified enforcement activities (e.g., safety belt 
checkpoints, enforcement zones, saturation patrols) spanning the period 
from Monday, May 23 through Sunday, June 5, and involving the 
participation of law enforcement agencies serving at least 85 percent 
of the State's population.
    [squ] Pre- and post-mobilization observational surveys of safety 
belt use.
    The purpose of the pre-mobilization survey is to establish the 
current baseline for statewide safety belt use and to reflect any 
changes in usage since the last post-mobilization survey. The pre-
mobilization observational survey may be either a full statewide survey 
or a sub-sample survey derived from the full survey design. Data 
collection for the pre-mobilization observational survey must begin no 
earlier than April 1 and conclude no later than May 8, 2005.
    The post-mobilization observational survey must be a full statewide 
survey conforming to NHTSA's Uniform Criteria for State Observational 
Surveys of Seat Belt Use, (23 CFR Part 1340) (the ``Uniform 
Criteria''), for which data collection must begin on or shortly after 
Monday, June 6 and must conclude no later than July 10, 2005.
    After consultation with State representatives NHTSA has determined 
that one mobilization per year would be appropriate. Therefore, States 
applying for FY 2005 Innovative grant funding must use all FY 2005 
Section 157 Innovative Grants to fund their participation in the May, 
2005 national mobilization detailed above.
    In addition, if States are planning a second high visibility 
enforcement period, or a program of sustained enforcement in addition 
to the May 9-June 5 mobilization, States may propose to use some of 
their carry-over Section 157 Innovative funds from prior years, along 
with any other available funds for those purposes (See Appendix D.) It 
should be noted that any subsequent safety belt enforcement 
mobilization should not be conducted during the Labor Day holiday, 
``You Drink and Drive. You Lose.'' Crackdown to be conducted August 19-
September 5, 2005.
    Apart from the required pre- and post-mobilization observational 
surveys of safety belt use (preceding and following the May 9-June 5 
mobilization), no evaluation activities are required of the States for 
the FY 2005 Section 157 Innovative grants. However, NHTSA will consider 
funding additional evaluation activities (e.g., telephone or Motor 
Vehicle Department surveys of public attitudes and awareness), should 
States propose them.
    The following types of proposals will not be considered:
     A proposal designed to increase safety belt use in only a 
limited number of jurisdictions within the State;

[[Page 69672]]

     A proposal that lacks a commitment to the May 9-June 5, 
2005 mobilization;
     A proposal that lacks a plan for paid media support for 
the mobilization;
     A proposal to employ a message other than Click It or 
Ticket (during the May mobilization), as its first or secondary theme, 
unless use of the Click It or Ticket message is prohibited by law or 
executive order;
     A proposal that lacks a commitment to conducting a full, 
statewide, Uniform-Criteria-compliant observational survey of safety 
belt use following the May 9-June 5, 2005 mobilization; or
     A proposal that lacks a commitment to conducting either a 
full statewide observational survey or a sub-sample survey derived from 
the full survey design prior to that mobilization.
    As a condition of award, States must agree to provide the results 
of their own pre- and post-mobilization observational surveys to NHTSA, 
within the prescribed deadlines, to facilitate NHTSA's overall 
evaluation of the effectiveness of the FY 2005 grant program. NHTSA 
will share the results of its telephone surveys with the States. These 
data will provide information regarding the extent to which the public 
was aware of the enforcement, public information and education (PI&E), 
and outreach efforts in each State, thus assisting statewide evaluation 
efforts. States may also propose to conduct additional evaluation 
activities (e.g., conducting motorist surveys at DMVs or licensing 
centers). NHTSA will aid the States in such efforts wherever possible, 
such as by tabulating and analyzing the results of motorist/DMV 
surveys.

Award of Funds and Funding Levels

    In FY 2005, the decision to award a Section 157 Innovative Grant to 
a State will be based on the determination that the activities planned 
have potential to make a significant impact in increasing safety belt 
use.
    To maximize the potential for impact, it is anticipated that, 
subject to the availability of funds, no State will receive a grant 
award of less than $250,000. This $250,000 minimum was derived based on 
experience gained by the agency over the past 5 years of this 
Innovative Grant program. It reflects the agency's estimate of the 
minimum resources needed, in smaller or less populated States, to 
implement an effective statewide safety belt program that includes 
intensive enforcement, paid media and earned media, appropriate 
outreach, and pre- and post-mobilization observational surveys.
    We expect that some States will receive more than this minimum 
amount. When developing their proposals for FY 2005, States are 
encouraged to consider their level of effort and budget for the May 
2004 Click It or Ticket mobilization.
    To the extent that the agency determines that activities proposed 
in a State's plan do not have substantial impact potential, these 
activities will not be funded.

Allowable Uses of Federal Funds

    In FY 2005, the Section 157 Innovative Grants funds will be tracked 
in a fashion similar to other highway safety grants through the Grant 
Tracking System. Funds provided to a State under this grant program 
shall be used to carry out the approved activities described in the 
State's application for which the grant is awarded. In addition, 
allowable uses of Federal funds shall be governed by 49 CFR Part 18--
Department of Transportation Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments and 
the cost principles contained in OMB Circular A-87 or other Federal 
regulation or OMB Circular setting forth cost principles applicable to 
Federal grant funds, as appropriate.

Eligibility Requirements

    Only the 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, 
through their Governors' Representatives for Highway Safety, will be 
eligible to receive funding under this grant program.

Application Procedures

    Each applicant must submit one original and two copies of its 
application to the appropriate NHTSA Regional Office (see Appendix A), 
to the attention of the Regional Administrator. States may choose to 
submit their applications electronically (see Appendix A). Applications 
must be typed on one side of the page only and adhere to the 
requirements of the Application Contents and Grant Criteria Section 
below. Appendix B provides checklists to facilitate the preparation of 
the proposals. Only applications submitted by a State's Governor's 
Representative for Highway Safety and received in the appropriate NHTSA 
Regional Office on or before close of business on January 10, 2005 will 
be considered.

Application Options

    In order to streamline this year's application and award process, 
simplified application options are available to most States.
    Application Option A (Continued Program Strategies): Any State that 
received a Section 157 Innovative grant in 2004 and that converted at 
least ten percent of its 2003 non-belt users into belt users in 2004 
(based upon observational surveys conforming to NHTSA's Uniform 
Criteria) or that has a 2004 safety belt use rate of at least 90 
percent may submit in lieu of a full application, the information 
required under the Application Contents and Grant Criteria section, 
Application Option A--Continued Program Strategies. Option A is 
available to 24 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as 
listed in Appendix C.
    Application Option B (Revised Program Strategies): Any State that 
received a Section 157 Innovative grant in FY 2004 and did not achieve 
either a 10 percent conversion of their safety belt use rate or reach 
90 percent safety belt use, may elect to submit an application under 
the Application Contents and Grant Criteria section, Application Option 
B--Revised Program Strategies or a complete application under 
Application Option C--New Program Strategies. All other States that 
received a Section 157 Innovative grant in FY 2004, who wish to revise 
their application are eligible to submit Option B, as well. Option B is 
available to 47 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as 
listed in Appendix C.
    Application Option C (New Program Strategies): Any State may submit 
a completely new application, including an Introduction, a detailed 
Program Plan, and all required checklists, certifications and budgetary 
information, as specified under the Application Contents and Grant 
Criteria section, Application Option C--New Program Strategies. Please 
note that any State that did not receive a Section 157 Innovative grant 
in FY 2004 must follow Option C.

Application Contents and Grant Criteria

1. Application Option A--Continued Program Strategies

    A State that applies for a Section 157 Innovative grant in FY 2005 
under Application Option A shall submit an application consisting of 
the following:
    [ballot] The completed Application Option A checklist, (in Appendix 
B), with a checkmark in the ``check if included'' column for every 
item. (Additional High-Visibility Enforcement Program subsequent to May 
9-June 5 mobilization is optional.)
    [ballot] The Appendix C certifications, signed by the Governor's 
Representative for Highway Safety, with a checkmark on item (A) and on 
each of the items (i) through (v), and (vii) and (viii).

[[Page 69673]]

    [ballot] Any evaluation activities the State proposes to carry out, 
beyond the observational surveys pre- and post- the May, 2005 
mobilization.
    [ballot] The proposed budget for the State's FY 2005 Section 157 
Innovative grant, using the Appendix D format.

2. Application Option B `` Revised Program Strategies

    A State that applies for a Section 157 Innovative grant in FY 2005 
under Application Option B shall submit an application consisting of 
the following:
    [ballot] The completed Application Option B checklist, (in Appendix 
B), with a checkmark in the ``check if included'' column for every 
item. (Additional High-Visibility Enforcement Program subsequent to May 
9-June 5 mobilization is optional.)
    [ballot] The Appendix C certifications, signed by the Governor's 
Representative for Highway Safety, with a checkmark on item (B) and on 
each of the items (i) through (v) and (vii) and (viii).
    [squ] A brief description of what the State plans to do differently 
from the State's May, 2004 mobilization activities during the May, 2005 
mobilization to increase its observed usage beyond the level achieved 
in FY 2004. Examples of additional effort might include: (1) 
Participation in a region-wide demonstration program; (2) shifting 
enforcement and/or media to a different geographic or demographic 
audience where safety belt use is lower; (3) better coordination of 
media and enforcement; and, (4) adoption of the CIOT message.
    [squ] Any evaluation activities the State proposes to carry out, 
beyond the observational surveys pre- and post- the May, 2005 
mobilization.
    [squ] The proposed budget for the State's FY 2005 Section 157 
Innovative grant, using the Appendix D format.

3. Application Option C--New Program Strategies

    A State that applies for a Section 157 Innovative grant in FY 2005 
under Application Option C shall submit a New Program Strategies 
application, consisting of:
    [squ] The completed Application Option C checklist, (in Appendix 
B), with a checkmark in the ``check if included'' column for every 
item. (Additional High-Visibility Enforcement Program subsequent to May 
9-June 5 mobilization is optional.)
    [squ] The Appendix C certifications, signed by the Governor's 
Representative for Highway Safety, with a checkmark on item (C) and on 
each of the items (i) through (v) and (vii) and (viii).
    [squ] An Introduction, discussing the State's current safety belt 
use rate and recent trends; the goal for increasing use rate in 2005; 
the State's geographic and demographic population distribution and any 
other unique characteristics relevant to the State's plans to increase 
belt use (e.g., ethnic sub-populations, variations in use rate by 
vehicle type); and, any available information pertinent to recent 
progress or lack of progress in increasing belt use.
    [squ] A detailed Program Plan for the May, 2005 mobilization, 
describing how the State intends to recruit law enforcement 
participation in the mobilization and how much of the State's 
population (at least 85 percent) will be served by participating law 
enforcement agencies; how the mobilization will be publicized; the 
target audience and preliminary media buy strategy; the messaging 
(e.g., Click It or Ticket) the State intends to employ in the 
publicity; and the kinds of enforcement activities (e.g., checkpoints, 
saturation patrols) it plans to employ for the mobilization.
    [squ] Any evaluation activities the State proposes to carry out, 
beyond the observational surveys pre- and post- the May, 2005 
mobilization.
    [squ] The proposed budget for the State's FY 2005 Section 157 
Innovative grant, using the Appendix D format.
    4. Budget: Under all three options, the Budget section of the 
State's application must include information on Section 157 Innovative 
grant funds remaining from prior fiscal years, and how much of those 
prior year funds will be allocated to support the May FY 2005 program. 
States are reminded that all remaining FY 2002 Section 157 Innovative 
funds must be expended by the end of FY 2005 (September 30, 2005).
    Reporting Requirements and Deliverables: Each grant recipient will 
be responsible for providing the following reports:
    1. Quarterly Reports--The quarterly reports should include a 
summary of enforcement and other activities and accomplishments for the 
preceding period, significant problems encountered or anticipated, a 
brief itemization of expenditures made during the 3-month reporting 
period, and proposed activities for the upcoming reporting period. Many 
States will continue to spend funds awarded during prior years of this 
Section 157 Innovative grant program, as well as funds awarded in FY 
2005. NHTSA does not intend that States submit separate Quarterly 
Reports for the various funding years. Activities carried out during a 
reporting period under all four years of funding should be documented 
in the same report. However, the State should include a tabulation of 
the amount of funds expended during the reporting period from each year 
and any decisions and actions required in the upcoming program period 
should be included in the report.
    2. Final Report--A Final Report that includes a summary of the 
impact of the FY 2005 program. It should include a complete description 
of the innovative projects conducted, including partners, overall 
program implementation, evaluation methodology and findings from the 
program evaluation, if any. In terms of information transfer, it is 
important to know what worked and what did not work, under what 
circumstances, and what can be done to avoid potential problems in 
future projects. The grantee shall submit three copies of the Final 
Report to the Regional Office within fifteen months following grant 
award.

Application Review Procedures

    All applications will be reviewed by an Evaluation Committee to 
ensure that the application meets all of the requirements contained in 
this notice, including the requirements contained in the Application 
Contents and Grant Criteria section of the Notice. This evaluation 
process may include submission of technical or program questions from 
the evaluation committee to the applicants. In addition, the Evaluation 
Committee will determine whether the activities and identified 
resources included in the proposals have potential to make a 
significant impact on safety belt use. To the extent that the 
Evaluation Committee determines that proposed activities will not have 
substantial impact potential, such activities will not be recommended 
for funding.
    More specifically, the Evaluation Committee's review will assess: 
(a) The comprehensiveness, intensity, feasibility, and potential impact 
of the proposed approach, (where Application Option A or B is elected, 
the Committee may rely on documentation from the previous year for 
assessment); (b) the extent to which adequate funding (from a variety 
of sources) has been identified to carry out the proposed program 
elements; and (c) the extent to which the funds requested in the grant 
proposal are allocated to the required program elements and not to 
activities with less potential for impact. Activities within any 
proposal that are determined by the evaluation team not to have 
significant potential for increasing safety belt usage in the State 
will not be approved for funding. Subject to the availability of funds, 
it is anticipated

[[Page 69674]]

that awards will be made in February 2005.

    Issued on: November 22, 2004.
Marilena Amoni,
Associate Administrator for Program Development and Delivery.

APPENDIX A: NHTSA REGIONAL OFFICES

    New England Region (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT), Volpe National 
Transportation Systems Center, 55 Broadway, Kendall Square, Code 
903, Cambridge, MA 02142, [email protected].
    Eastern Region (NJ, NY, PR), 222 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 204, 
White Plains, NY 10605, [email protected].
    Mid-Atlantic Region (DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV), 10 South Howard 
Street, Suite 6700, Baltimore, MD 21201, [email protected].
    Southeast Region (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN), Atlanta 
Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 17T30, Atlanta, GA 
30303, [email protected].
    Great Lakes Region (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI), 19900 Governors 
Drive, Suite 201, Olympia Fields, IL 60461, [email protected].
    South Central Region (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX), 819 Taylor Street, 
Room 8A38, Fort Worth, TX 76102-6177, [email protected].
    Central Region (IA, KS, MO, NE), 901 Locust Street, Room 466, 
Kansas City, MO 64106, [email protected].
    Rocky Mountain Region (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY), 12300 West 
Dakota Avenue, Suite 140, Lakewood, CO 80228, [email protected].
    Western Region (AZ, CA, HI, NV), 201 Mission Street, Suite 2230, 
San Francisco, CA 94105, [email protected].
    Northwest Region (AK, ID, OR, WA), 3140 Jackson Federal 
Building, 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174, 
[email protected].

 Appendix B.--Application Checklist for Application Option A--Continued
                           Program Strategies
                             [State: ------]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Check if
             Element                 included          Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Appendix C Certifications.....  ...........  Place a checkmark on
                                                 application Option A.
                                                 Place a checkmark on
                                                 all items appropriate,
                                                 (i) through (viii).
                                                 Signature from
                                                 Governor's Highway
                                                 Safety Representative
                                                 for certification of
                                                 all checked items.
2. Additional High-Visibility      ...........  Describe a credible plan
 Enforcement Program subsequent                  for carrying out a
 to May 9-June 5 Mobilization                    Subsequent Stepped Up
 (Optional).                                     Enforcement program
                                                 supported by (at least)
                                                 earned media.
3. Appendix D Budget.............  ...........  Detail all cost elements
                                                 and the total proposed
                                                 cost, following the
                                                 format in Appendix D.
4. Appendix D Budget.............  ...........  Include information on
                                                 remaining grant funds
                                                 from Section 157
                                                 Innovative, and how
                                                 they will be applied to
                                                 the May and/or
                                                 subsequent mobilization
                                                 in FY 2005.
5. Appendix D Budget.............  ...........  Identify the share of
                                                 the total proposed cost
                                                 that will be allocated
                                                 to the May, 2005
                                                 Mobilization and each
                                                 of its major sub-
                                                 elements (earned media,
                                                 paid media, intensified
                                                 enforcement and safety
                                                 belt observational
                                                 surveys).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


  Appendix B.--Application Checklist for Application Option B--Revised
                           Program Strategies
                             [State: ------]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Check if
             Element                 included          Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. May Mobilization Enhancements.  ...........  Describe a credible plan
                                                 for enhancing the
                                                 State's May 2004
                                                 Mobilization activities
                                                 in May 2005.
2. Appendix C Certifications.....  ...........  Place a checkmark on
                                                 application option B.
                                                 Place a checkmark on
                                                 all items appropriate,
                                                 (i) through (viii).
                                                 Signature from
                                                 Governor's Highway
                                                 Safety Representative
                                                 for certification of
                                                 all checked items.
3. Additional High-Visibility      ...........  Describe a credible plan
 Enforcement Program subsequent                  for carrying out a
 to May 9-June 5 Mobilization                    Subsequent Stepped Up
 (Optional).                                     Enforcement program
                                                 supported by (at least)
                                                 earned media.
4. Appendix D Budget.............  ...........  Detail all cost elements
                                                 and the total proposed
                                                 cost, following the
                                                 format in Appendix D.
5. Appendix D Budget.............  ...........  Include information on
                                                 remaining grant funds
                                                 from Section 157
                                                 Innovative, and how
                                                 they will be applied to
                                                 May and/or subsequent
                                                 mobilization in FY
                                                 2005.
6. Appendix D Budget.............  ...........  Identify the share of
                                                 the total proposed cost
                                                 that will be allocated
                                                 to the May, 2005
                                                 Mobilization and each
                                                 of its major sub-
                                                 elements (earned media,
                                                 paid media, intensified
                                                 enforcement and safety
                                                 belt observational
                                                 surveys).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


Appendix B.--Application Checklist for Application Option C--New Program
                               Strategies
                             [State:------]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Check if
             Element                 included          Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1a. Introduction.................  ...........  Describe the State's
                                                 geographic and
                                                 demographic population
                                                 distribution and other
                                                 unique characteristics
                                                 relevant to State's
                                                 plan.
1b. Introduction.................  ...........  Describe the State's
                                                 current use rate and
                                                 recent trends, and
                                                 discuss factors
                                                 contributing to recent
                                                 progress or lack of
                                                 progress.
1c. Introduction.................  ...........  Specify a realistic goal
                                                 for increasing safety
                                                 belt use in 2005.
2. Appendix C Certifications.....  ...........  Place a checkmark on
                                                 application option C.
                                                 Place a checkmark on
                                                 all items appropriate,
                                                 (i) through (viii).
                                                 Signature from
                                                 Governor's Highway
                                                 Safety Representative
                                                 for certification of
                                                 all checked items.

[[Page 69675]]

 
3. Additional High-Visibility      ...........  Describe a credible plan
 Enforcement Program subsequent                  for carrying out a
 to May 9-June 5 Mobilization                    Subsequent Stepped Up
 (Optional).                                     Enforcement program
                                                 supported by (at least)
                                                 earned media.
4. May Mobilization Program Plan.  ...........  Describe a credible plan
                                                 for carrying out the
                                                 May 9-June 5
                                                 Mobilization, including
                                                 enforcement, earned and
                                                 paid media and
                                                 observational surveys.
5. Appendix D Budget.............  ...........  Detail all cost elements
                                                 and the total proposed
                                                 cost, following the
                                                 format in Appendix D.
6. Appendix D Budget.............  ...........  Include information on
                                                 remaining grant funds
                                                 from Section 157
                                                 Innovative, and how
                                                 they will be applied to
                                                 the May and/or
                                                 subsequent mobilization
                                                 in FY 2005.
7. Appendix D Budget.............  ...........  Identify the share of
                                                 the total proposed cost
                                                 that will be allocated
                                                 to the May, 2005
                                                 Mobilization and each
                                                 of its major sub-
                                                 elements (earned media,
                                                 paid media, intensified
                                                 enforcement and safety
                                                 belt observational
                                                 surveys).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

APPENDIX C: CERTIFICATIONS

    The State must select only one Application Option:

Application Option

    (A) ----State is submitting a Continued Program Strategies 
Application and plans to replicate its May 2004 Mobilization in May 
2005.
    Only the States of Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, 
Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, 
Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, 
Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto 
Rico, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington may choose this option, as 
their May, 2004 Mobilization converted at least ten (10) percent of 
the 2003 non-belt users into users or they have a FY2004 safety belt 
use rate of at least 90 percent.

Application Option

    (B) ----State is submitting a Revised Program Strategies 
Application and will include a brief description of its plans to 
revise or enhance the May 2005 Mobilization, over its approach to 
the May, 2004 Mobilization.
    Any State listed in item (A) above may choose Option (B). Also 
the States of Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, 
North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South 
Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia may 
choose to submit an application under Option B--Revised Program 
Strategies, because these States did not convert at least ten 
percent of the 2003 non-belt users into users or reach 90 percent 
safety belt use.

Application Option

    (C) ----State is submitting a New Program Strategies Application 
in FY 2005.
    Any State may elect to submit a complete application. New 
Hampshire, South Dakota and Wyoming must submit a New Program 
Strategies Application because those States did not receive a 
Section 157 Innovative grant in FY 2004.
    The State must certify to the following items (i) through (v) 
and (vii) and (viii). The State may certify to item (vi).
    (i) ----The State will use the funds awarded under this grant 
program exclusively to implement a statewide safety belt program in 
accordance with the requirements of Section 157(b) of P.L. 105-178 
(TEA-21), as extended.
    (ii) ----The State will administer the funds in accordance with 
49 CFR Part 18 and OMB Circular A-87.
    (iii) ----The State will conduct a statewide Mobilization of 
high-visibility enforcement of its safety belt law from Monday, May 
9 through Sunday, June 5, 2004. The Mobilization will include earned 
media (press events, news conferences, etc.) spanning the entire 4-
week period; a paid advertising campaign, from Monday, May 16 
through Sunday, May 29, featuring broadcast advertisements 
delivering the Click It or Ticket message, or other enforcement 
focused message that incorporates CIOT as a secondary theme. (All 
media, creative scripts, and ads require explicit NHTSA approval; 
intensified enforcement activities (e.g., safety belt checkpoints, 
enforcement zones, saturation patrols) spanning the period from 
Monday, May 23 through Sunday, June 5, and involving the 
participation of local law enforcement agencies serving at least 85 
percent of the State's population.
    (iv) ----The State will conduct pre- and post-mobilization 
observational surveys of safety belt use. The post-mobilization 
observational survey will be a full statewide survey conforming to 
NHTSA's Uniform Criteria, for which data collection will begin on or 
shortly after Monday, June 6 and will conclude no later than July 
10, 2005. The pre-mobilization observational survey will be either a 
full statewide survey or a sub-sample survey derived from the full 
survey design; data collection for the pre-observational survey will 
begin no earlier than Friday, April 1, and conclude no later than 
Sunday, May 8.
    (v) ----The State will provide pre- and post-mobilization 
observational survey data on safety belt use for the May, 2005 
Mobilization within one month following the collection of the data.
    (vi) ----(Optional) The State will conduct an additional program 
of high-visibility enforcement of its safety belt law at one or more 
time periods during 2005, subsequent to the May 9-June 5 
mobilization.
    (vii) ----The State will provide to the NHTSA Regional 
Administrator, no later than 15 months after the grant award, a 
report of activities carried out with grant funds and 
accomplishments to date.
    (viii) ----The State will comply with all applicable laws and 
regulations, financial and programmatic requirements.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Governor's Highway Safety Representative
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P

[[Page 69676]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN30NO04.071


[[Page 69677]]


[FR Doc. 04-26351 Filed 11-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-C