BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT REPORT	Page 1 of  1

DATE: March 6, 2001	Submitted by: TAXATION AND REVENUE DEPT.
	T. GLENN ELLINGTON, SECRETARY
BILL NUMBER: SB-752 -- Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee Substitute

SPONSOR: Senator Lopez

BILL SHORT TITLE: Changing requirements for use of safety belts. 

CONFLICTS, DUPLICATES, COMPANIONS: SB-499 

DESCRIPTION: This bill would require children under one-year of age to be secured in the back seat of passenger cars, vans and pickup trucks in New Mexico. They must be secured with rear facing child passenger restraints that meet federal standards. If, however, the vehicles have no back seat, children may ride in the front seat 1) if the passenger-side air bag is deactivated, or 2) if the vehicle is not equipped with a deactivation switch for the passenger-side airbag.
	The measure also requires children aged one to four regardless of weight and, if they weigh under 40 pounds, regardless of age, to be secured in passenger restraints (i.e. special seats secured by seat belts). Current statutes simply require children aged one through five to be restrained via seat belts or other devices. The legislation further requires children aged five through twelve to be secured by a seat belt or a passenger restraint devise. Current statute require merely that children between the ages of five and eleven must wear safety belts in any seat of the vehicle. The bill also requires all persons under 18 years of age to be secured with seat belts or passenger restraint devises. Current statutes do not require people over the age of twelve years to be restrained by seat belts.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2001

FISCAL IMPACT (Thousands of dollars): No significant impacts on state or local revenue sources would result from enactment of the proposed measure.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPACT: The proposed measure would impose no significant administrative impacts on the Department or local governments.
 
TECHNICAL ISSUES:  none

OTHER IMPACTS AND ISSUES: none.