BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 519

By: Turner

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that parents of children under the age of two should be encouraged to place their children in rear-facing car seats, since this practice reduces the likelihood in case of a motor vehicle accident.  H.B. 519 seeks to address this issue by revising the conduct constituting a child passenger safety seat systems offense.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 519 amends the Transportation Code to expand the conduct that constitutes an offense under statutory provisions relating to child passenger safety seat systems to include the operation of a passenger vehicle while transporting a child who is younger than two years of age and failing to keep the child secured during the operation of the vehicle in a rear-facing child passenger safety seat system unless the child is taller than three feet, four inches, or weighs more than 40 pounds.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.