Bill Text: TX SB278 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of an offense for failing to secure certain children in a rear-facing child passenger safety seat system.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-16 - Not again placed on intent calendar [SB278 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SB278-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of an offense for failing to secure certain children in a rear-facing child passenger safety seat system.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-16 - Not again placed on intent calendar [SB278 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SB278-Introduced.html
85R2068 JAM-D | ||
By: Zaffirini | S.B. No. 278 |
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relating to the creation of an offense for failing to secure certain | ||
children in a rear-facing child passenger safety seat system. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 545.412, Transportation Code, is amended | ||
by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: | ||
(a-1) A person commits an offense if the person operates a | ||
passenger vehicle, transports a child who is younger than two years | ||
of age, and does not keep the child secured during the operation of | ||
the vehicle in a rear-facing child passenger safety seat system | ||
unless the child: | ||
(1) is taller than three feet, four inches; or | ||
(2) weighs more than 40 pounds. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 545.4121(b), Transportation Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(b) It is a defense to prosecution of an offense to which | ||
this section applies that the defendant provides to the court | ||
evidence satisfactory to the court that: | ||
(1) at the time of the offense: | ||
(A) the defendant was not arrested or issued a | ||
citation for violation of any other offense; | ||
(B) the defendant did not possess a child | ||
passenger safety seat system in the vehicle; and | ||
(C) the vehicle the defendant was operating was | ||
not involved in an accident; and | ||
(2) subsequent to the time of the offense, | ||
the defendant obtained an appropriate child passenger safety seat | ||
system for each child required to be secured in a child passenger | ||
safety seat system under Section 545.412 [ |
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SECTION 3. Sections 545.413(b) and (b-1), Transportation | ||
Code, are amended to read as follows: | ||
(b) A person commits an offense if the person: | ||
(1) operates a passenger vehicle that is equipped with | ||
safety belts; and | ||
(2) allows a child who is younger than 17 years of age | ||
and who is not required to be secured in a child passenger safety | ||
seat system under Section 545.412 [ |
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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. | ||
(b-1) A person commits an offense if the person allows a | ||
child who is younger than 17 years of age and who is not required to | ||
be secured in a child passenger safety seat system under Section | ||
545.412 [ |
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transport 15 or fewer passengers, including the driver, without | ||
securing the child individually by a safety belt, if the child is | ||
occupying a seat that is equipped with a safety belt. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |