SRC-S.B. 60 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 60 76R1616 DWS-EBy: Moncrief State Affairs 2/19/1999 Committee Report (Substitute) DIGEST Currently, Texas law requires children to wear a safety belt if they are riding in the front seat of a passenger car. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration seatbelts are 40 percent to50 percent effective in preventing fatalities and reducing injuries. Over half of those killed in passenger cars in Texas in 1996 were not wearing seatbelts. S.B. 60 would require certain persons to wear a safety belt when riding in any part of a passenger car. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 60 requires persons to wear safety belts while operating certain motor vehicles. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 545.413 (b) and (h), Transportation Code, to provide that a person commits an offense if the person allows a child who is at least four years of age but younger than 15 years of age to ride in a vehicle without requiring the child to be secured by a safety belt, provided the child is occupying a seat that is equipped with a safety belt. Redefines "passenger car." Defines "safety belt." Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Section 545.413(b), Transportation Code, to provide that a person commits an offense if the person allows a child who is at least four years of age but younger than 15 years of age to ride in vehicle without requiring the child to be secured by a safety belt, provided the child is occupying a seat that is equipped with a safety belt.