Legislature(2009 - 2010)BUTROVICH 205
02/10/2009 01:00 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB25 | |
| SB72 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 25 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 72-CHILD SAFETY SEATS & SEAT BELTS
CHAIR KOOKESH announced the consideration of SB 72.
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, said he
is the sponsor of SB 72.
1:12:36 PM
SENATOR FRENCH said of the 61 children under the age of 8
injured in auto accidents in Alaska between 2001 and 2005, only
5 were properly restrained under federal standards. Nearly two
thirds of those 61 children were between the ages of 4 and 8.
They were too large for a car seat and too small for a seatbelt.
Current Alaska law requires the use of proper safety devices for
children under the age of 16. The National Highway Safety
Traffic Administration recommends that children under 80 pounds
and under 57 inches use a child's safety seat or a belt-
positioning booster seat. SB 72 will put those recommendations
in statute, clarifying for law enforcement officials what is
required. All safety devices must meet or exceed federal
standards. As of September 2008, 43 other states mandate booster
seats. While any restraint is better than none, national studies
have shown that booster seats are 60 percent safer than safety
belts alone. The cost of a booster seat is between $25 and $100.
By passing this legislation, Alaska becomes eligible for about
$200,000 in federal highway safety funds.
1:14:27 PM
CHAIR KOOKESH said there was a seat belt bill a few years ago
that he objected to because of towns like Beaver that have only
a mile of road and one or two vehicles, "and I've heard stories
of a state trooper going to that individual and giving him a
ticket for not wearing a seat belt when he's going four to five
miles per hour." He likes the idea of getting $200,000, but he
doesn't like having laws like that in rural Alaska, where they
just don't fit.
SENATOR FRENCH said he would promote a statewide standard for
all Alaskans. There are laws that have exemptions for rural
Alaskans, like the one for ignition interlocks. If a person gets
a ticket under this bill, he or she only needs to buy a $20
booster seat to cancel the ticket.
1:16:10 PM
CHAIR KOOKESH said he doesn't want it to cover all of rural
Alaska. He represents 96 rural communities and most are
considered off-road.
SENATOR FRENCH said this bill will apply to the roads and
highways of the state. If there are places that don't fall under
that definition, it won't apply. The bill is in your hands.
CHAIR KOOKESH said he doesn't see that exception. He doesn't
want to hurt the constituents that he represents.
1:17:04 PM
SENATOR MEYER said it looks like these seats cost between $25
and $100. Bike helmets are given to people who can't afford
them, and he asked if that will be the case for booster seats.
SENATOR FRENCH said he doesn't know, but the seats are little
plastic buckets about the size of a phone book that simply lift
a child high enough to make the seat belt function. They are
less than $30. If a person can afford a car and insurance, this
little investment for a child's safety is appropriate.
SENATOR MEYER said about 30 to 35 percent of people cannot
afford insurance. There will be people who want to spend that
$30 elsewhere or think that their kid is big enough at 60
pounds. He thinks there will be some group to help low income
people purchase the seats.
SENATOR FRENCH said there are activists in the state promoting
this idea, and they that can address that.
1:19:05 PM
SENATOR MENARD applauded the senator for the bill, and if it
passes, groups like rotary clubs will likely help.
CHAIR KOOKESH said off-road vehicles are not required to have
insurance.
SENATOR FRENCH said there is an exception to seat belt use,
which will apply to this bill. The exception includes operators
or passengers of motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, snowmobiles,
and others vehicles that are not to be driven on the highway.
CHAIR KOOKESH said he knew that and wanted Senator French, as
the sponsor of the bill, to say it on the record.
1:20:32 PM
NANCY BARROS, Department of Emergency Medical Services,
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Juneau, said
DHSS supports SB 72. Motor vehicle-related injuries are the
leading cause of death in the United State for children between
the ages of 2 and 14. In Alaska, they are the second highest
cause of hospitalizations for children under the age of 14. In
2006, 7 children were severely injured in Alaska motor vehicle
crashes. From 2002 to 2006, 63 children have been injured.
Children who are restrained in booster seats are 59 percent less
likely to be injured than children using only a lap belt.
Voluntary seat belt inspection stations found that 85 percent of
children are improperly restrained, and one third of the
children under the age of 14 use the wrong restraint. More than
85 percent of the children hospitalized were improperly
restrained with a lap belt-shoulder harness only, or they were
not restrained at all. The current statute is confusing about
specific standards for age and weight-based restraints. This
bill is designed to eliminate confusion about which restraints
are appropriate.
1:22:57 PM
CINDY CASHEN, Administrator, Alaska Highway Safety Office,
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF),
Juneau, said her office is responsible for administering federal
funding to effective data-driven driver behavior programs that
save lives and reduce injuries. It would be her office that
would apply for the funding if this bill passed. According to
the U.S. Department of Transportation's chief council, this bill
would make Alaska eligible for $194,000 in this federal fiscal
year. It would be the last year of funding. Booster seat use is
mandated in 43 other states. Her office currently funds the
Child Booster Seat Program in Alaska. It is operated by
hospitals, fire departments, and police stations at a local
level. It is a very effective program. She looks forward to its
annual reports because it does a great job getting out to the
communities and educating parents and others. The program not
only shows people how to put in a safety seat, but it also
provides them, especially to low income families. It is one of
the strongest grassroots organizations she has ever worked with.
With these funds, up to 50 percent of the grant would have to be
used for purchasing and distributing child safety seats to low
income families. Currently there aren't enough funds for the
rural areas. "We're pretty strong in Fairbanks and Anchorage and
Mat-Su; not so much in Juneau." In the rural areas it is pretty
much nonexistent, except where local hospitals have access. So,
Alaska really needs these funds. The remaining amounts would be
used for training child passenger safety professionals,
including police and fire personnel and parents.
1:26:08 PM
MS. CASHEN said the vast majority of people with children in
their cars need the training to install the seats. The seats are
hard to put in.
SENATOR MENARD asked if they are as difficult to take out.
MS. CASHEN said one needs to kneel on them to make sure the
harness is secure, but taking them out is easy.
1:27:49 PM
JON COOK, Legislative Director, Alaska Auto Dealers Association,
Anchorage, said his group supports SB 72. The bill has remained
unchanged from last year. Current statute is vague and
confusing. It just says to comply with U.S. Department of
Transportation guidelines and leaves a lot of guess work for
parents and law enforcement. But SB 72 lays it out clearly for
everyone. There have been tremendous advances in auto safety
systems, but you don't want children to be in the wrong sized
system. Airbags have tremendous force and can cause serious harm
if a child is not in the correct restraint.
1:29:38 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if the bill will specify current safety
standards in Alaska statutes.
MR. COOK said yes.
1:30:02 PM
MARGARET HAYASHI, Retired Nurse, Anchorage, said she has been an
emergency nurse in three major trauma centers. She was also the
statewide Childhood Injury Prevention coordinator. She has been
an instructor since 1987. The 1985 law is very confusing to
parents. This doesn't change the law, it just clarifies it.
There have been tragic misunderstandings by parents thinking
that children could come out of car seats at the age of four.
"We did submit this bill last year, and it remains unchanged."
Since then, Alaska has lost a 7-year-old who should have been in
a booster seat. A parent did not understand the issue. She works
with programs throughout the state and is now in Mat-Su working
with the fire department, which will be instituting a child
passenger program where people can come and have their car seats
checked. Low income families get car seats free or at a reduced
price. Booster seats can be $17. "This is simply a clarification
of a law that we put forth in 1985, making it so much easier for
parents." She has seen parents saying, "If only I had known." It
is difficult for emergency staff and certainly the families
losing the child. She sees the need for education statewide.
1:33:12 PM
GORDON GLASER, Injury Prevention and Emergency Medical Services,
Department of Health and Social Services, Anchorage, said that
the earlier testimony of 63 people injured between 2002 to 2006
refers to people who were hospitalized severely enough, and only
9 were in child seats and some of them were not in correctly.
That number doesn't represent the number of fatalities. In 2006
there were 5 fatalities of children under 9, and 4 of the 5 were
of booster seat age. The program has been effective for infants
leaving the hospital, but as they get older it becomes more
difficult. His group has been providing training and booster
distribution. Kenai has been on the cutting edge of getting
programs in that area. Through Safe Kids programs and the Office
of Highway Safety, "we provide over 1,000 car seats and boosters
throughout the state ... on a sliding scale to families who
cannot afford it." This bill will expand that program.
1:35:50 PM
JODYNE BUTTO, Pediatrician and President, Alaska Chapter,
American Academy of Pediatrics, Anchorage, said the group has
been in favor of this bill for a couple of years. Alaska is one
of only 8 states that don't require booster seats. There are
fewer roads, but they need to be safe for children. This bill is
a clarification to help parents, grandparents, and law
enforcement to ensure that children are properly restrained. The
Academy has worked hard in other states to promote this.
1:37:36 PM
JANICE TOWER, Alaska Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics,
Anchorage, said she is delighted that Dr. Butto spoke on behalf
of the 83 members of the chapter. It is a very welcomed piece of
legislation. She hopes that the third year is the charm. The
bill will assist many pediatricians in helping parents learn how
to properly restrain their children.
JILL HODGES, Director, Alaska Brain Injury Network, Anchorage,
expressed the Network's support for SB 72. Proper seat
restraints prevent brain injuries. Brain injury is a silent
epidemic in Alaska. Last year 800 Alaskans were hospitalized
with a traumatic brain injury, which is a jolt or blow to the
head. Some heal and some have lifelong challenges. Since the
primary seat belt law in 2001, traumatic brain injury rates due
to motor vehicle accidents have decreased 38 percent. The Center
for Disease Control and Prevention recommends buckling children
in appropriate safety seats. Children need healthy bodies and
brains to be successful socially and in school. There will be
more healthy brains in Alaska with the passage of SB 72.
1:41:09 PM
SENATOR MENARD moved to report SB 72 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, SB 72 moved out of committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Senate Bill 25_Bill Packet.pdf |
STRA 2/10/2009 1:00:00 PM |
Richard Dewey Duvall Ferry Terminal |
| sb72packet |
STRA 2/10/2009 1:00:00 PM |
SB 72 |