Bill Text: NH SB118 | 2023 | Regular Session | Enrolled


Bill Title: Requiring children under the age of 2 years to be restrained in a motor vehicle.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2023-08-01 - Signed by the Governor on 07/28/2023; Chapter 0163; Effective 01/01/2024 [SB118 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2023-SB118-Enrolled.html

SB 118-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES

 

 

2023 SESSION

23-0439

02/05

 

SENATE BILL 118-FN

 

AN ACT requiring children under the age of 2 years to be restrained in a motor vehicle.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11; Rep. Sykes, Graf. 14; Rep. Crawford, Carr. 3; Rep. J. MacDonald, Carr. 6

 

COMMITTEE: Transportation

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires children under the age of 2 years old to be restrained in a rear facing child restraint in a motor vehicle.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-0439

02/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

 

AN ACT requiring children under the age of 2 years to be restrained in a motor vehicle.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Rules of the Road; Child Passenger Restraints Required.  Amend RSA 265:107-a, I-b to read as follows:

I-b.  No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any way while carrying as a passenger a person less than 7 years of age unless such passenger is properly fastened and secured by a child restraint system which is in accordance with the safety standards approved by the United States Department of Transportation in 49 C.F.R. section 571.213.  If the passenger is 57 inches or more in height, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply.  Each child restraint system shall be used in accordance with its manufacturer instructions, including manufacturer height and weight limits, proper attachment to the vehicle, correct securement of the child, and expiry dates.

I-c.  No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any way while carrying as a passenger a person less than 2 years of age unless such passenger is properly fastened and secured by a rear facing child restraint system which is in accordance with safety standards.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2024.

 

LBA

23-0439

12/13/22

 

SB 118-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT requiring children under the age of 2 years to be restrained in a motor vehicle.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

   Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [ X ] Highway           [    ] Other

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill, effective January 1, 2024, modifies the requirements for child passenger restraints in a motor vehicle for children under the age of two (2), to which those found guilty are subject to a violation level offense.  It is not possible to estimate how many new cases may arise because of this change, if any, however the Judicial Branch estimates the potential cost of violation level cases to be $119 in FY 2023 and $122 in FY 2024.  Additionally, violations of this statute carry a fine of $50 for first offense and $100 for subsequent offenses.  Therefore, this bill may increase revenue to the state highway fund.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch

 

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