On February 25, the Senate gave voice vote approval to legislation (S. 980) designed to prevent deaths and injuries to child passengers in motor vehicles who have outgrown their child safety seats but are too small for adult seatbelts.
Sponsored by Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL), the bill would provide incentive grants to states to enact mandatory booster seat laws. The bill also would require the Department of Transportation to develop safety standards for booster seats for children who weigh more than 50 pounds, and would require automobile manufacturers to install rear lap and shoulder belts in the center seats of their cars. Additionally, the bill would authorize $53 million over FY2002 through FY2006 to research and develop safety standards for booster seats and to implement an incentive grant program.
