SENATE BILL NO. 218 "An Act relating to use of child safety seats and seat belts." Co-Chair Stedman presented an overview of three bills on the agenda. He commented that this was the first hearing of SB 226 and, after taking the sponsor testimony, the Committee would hear public testimony. Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to ADOPT Committee Substitute for SB 218, work draft 25-LS1273\C as the working document before this committee. Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion purposes. 9:09:34 AM SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH presented an overview of the Committee Substitute changes. He explained that the Committee Substitute clarified the booster seat age requirements. Under the original bill a small fifteen year old child would be required to use a booster seat, but this proved unrealistic. The bill now clarified that a child over eight years old, who did not meet the height and weight requirement, can use a booster seat or a seat belt, whichever is appropriate. He noted this would also help law enforcement who could simply inquire about a child's age without trying to determine their height and weight. Co-Chair Stedman WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, work draft 25-LS1273\C was adopted. 9:11:08 AM Senator French presented an overview of the bill. This bill notes that when children try to use adult seat belts in place of proper child restraint devices, injuries occur. The use of a proper child restraint or booster seat can prevent injuries. Current Alaska law states that children under the age of four must be secured in a safety device, meeting U.S. Department of Transportation standards. The bill places the Department of Transportation guidelines into the statute. Senator French noted a chart describing the age, height and weight requirements for various safety devices (SB 218 Child Safety Seats and Seat Belts, copy on file). The American Academy of Pediatrics declared that booster seats are sixty percent safer than seat belts alone and thirty eight states now mandate booster use. He outlined that the object is not to punish. The first offense is just a citation that disappears once the booster seat is obtained. 9:12:58 AM Senator French referred to the fiscal note showing that Alaska would be eligible for $200,000 a year in federal funds. 9:13:28 AM Senator Thomas questioned if federal standards or guidelines provided information regarding the proper heights and weights for the children using booster seats or seat belts. Senator French acknowledged that the information was obtained from the U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines based on their research and studies. He indicated that on Page 2, Subsection 3, lines 3-8 is the new addition to the law. 9:14:47 AM Co-Chair Hoffman addressed the situation where booster seats may not be available in rural communities and questioned what would be the penalties for non-compliance. Senator French mentioned that the first fine would be a $25 "fix-it" ticket that would go away when the proper safety device was purchased. ALYSON BIASTOCK, STAFF, SENATOR FRENCH, interjected that the first ticket would be a $50 "fix-it" fine; the second offense would not include the "fix-it" option. She responded to the question of booster seats not being available in some communities by mentioning they were available online. Co- Chair Hoffman asked how long it would take to order online. Senator French responded that he was not sure. Co-Chair Hoffman advised that it would take at least a month to receive one online. 9:15:52 AM Senator Olson revealed some villages have no state maintained roads or internet availability. Senator French responded that if booster child seats are ignored within the community, then he believed the requirement will also be ignored. He does not see this bill changing what the community has made a priority to the local law enforcement. 9:17:53 AM PEGGY HAYASHI, REGISTERED NURSE, CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION STATE-SIDE COORDINATOR, CHUGIAK testified via teleconference, and supported this bill. She witnessed childhood injuries among non-restrained children, both personally and professionally. She explained that the current law is difficult for many people to understand, therefore this revision is meant as a clarification. She voiced the concern of rural Alaska by mentioning that any high-risk or low income child needing a booster seat has access by calling a child care provider or educator who will ensure a booster seat gets to the child. She noted the wide range in booster seat costs and styles. 9:21:25 AM Senator Thomas remarked that any car seat, whatever the price, is worth it for the safety of the child. Ms. Hayashi agreed and stated again that through grants and donations hundred of free seats have been available throughout Alaska for those that need them. GORDON GLASER, STAFF, STATE OF ALASKA, DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMITTEE MEMBER BOOSTER SEAT LEGISLATIVE COALITION, ANCHORAGE testified via teleconference, and supported this bill. He mentioned this legislation is important because it does not add any new penalties only clarify any confusion. Motor-vehicle related injuries are the second leading cause of hospitalization and leading cause of fatalities for Alaska children. This bill would help parents and communities understand the law. Co-Chair Stedman referred to the one fiscal previously mentioned from the Department of Transportation. 9:24:59 AM Senator Elton questioned if an accident with injuries to the child occurred and the parent did not have the required seat by law would this elevate the accident to a crime. 9:25:48 AM Senator French responded that "it depends." They would probably not elevate it to a crime if it was just the improper seat device for the child, but if this was coupled with alcohol, it could be considered reckless endangerment. Senator Elton wondered if this would implicate an individual's insurance policy. Senator French replied that the answer would probably be "no" and the insurance company would have a hard time denying coverage for a child who was injured. 9:27:57 AM Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to REPORT CSSB 218 out of Committee with individual recommendations and an accompanying fiscal note. CSSB 218 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and an accompanying previously published fiscal note by the Department of Transportation. 9:28:52 AM