STAND. COM. REP. NO. 214-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1690

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1690 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require motor vehicle operators to ensure that children two years of age or younger are properly restrained in rear-facing child passenger restraint systems.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Honolulu Police Department, Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children, and Safe Kids Hawai‘i. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition.

Your Committee finds that sixteen states and the District of Columbia require children under the age of two to be in rear-facing car seats. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the use of rear-facing car seats for as long as possible, typically until the age of two since the child's neck and skeleton are not capable of supporting them during a crash. Your Committee further finds that additional amendments are necessary to help keep children safe in motor vehicles until they are old enough to use adult seat belts. This measure would reduce motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by amending child restraint system requirements to:

(1) Increase the age from under eight to under ten years old for children to be properly restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards at the time of its manufacture; and

(2) Repeal an exemption for children at least four years of age but less than ten years who are over forty pounds and traveling in a motor vehicle equipped only with lap belts, without shoulder straps, in the back seat.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1690, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1690, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair