Child Safety and Child Booster Seats Incentive Grants, 5110-5112 [E6-1156]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
5110
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 20 / Tuesday, January 31, 2006 / Notices
hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
based on additional information noted
herein, the Administrator has
determined that the random drug testing
rate shall remain at 50 percent for 2006.
The Department has noted the
proliferation of products to defraud the
USDOT urine screens. Congressional
hearings on these products and the GAO
Report of 17 May 2005 are indicative of
the potential adverse impact these
products marketed as adulterate
specimens may have on reported
random rates and the reliability of those
results.
The Secretary of Transportation’s
Office of Drug &Alcohol Policy &
Compliance (ODAPC) has proposed to
amend 49 CFR part 40 to require
specimen validity tests for all urine
specimens collected pursuant to part 40.
The Department proposes that each
DOT specimen be tested for products
that can be used to adulterate and
substitute a urine specimen (70 FR 209
October 31, 2005). The Department
would require each HHS-certified
laboratory to conduct specimen validity
testing. This will have the effect of
identifying more adulterated and
substituted urine specimens and
enhance the reliability of test results.
The Department believes the safety
concerns associated with random testing
warrant a one year delay in order to
analyze reported random rates after SVT
testing has been implemented.
In 2005, the FTA retained the random
alcohol testing rate of 10 percent
(reduced previously from 25 percent)
based on the ‘‘positive rate’’ for random
alcohol test data from 2003 and 2004.
Because the random alcohol violation
rate was again lower than 0.5 percent for
the two preceding consecutive years
(0.20 percent for 2003 and 0.11 percent
for 2004), the random alcohol testing
rate will remain at 10 percent for 2006.
FTA detailed reports on the drug and
alcohol testing data collected from
transit employers may be obtained from
the Office of Safety and Security,
Federal Transit Administration, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Room 9301,
Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366–2896
or at https://transit-safety.volpe.dog.gov/
Publications.
Issued on: January 24, 2006.
Sandra K. Bushue,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 06–859 Filed 1–30–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–57–M
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:34 Jan 30, 2006
Jkt 208001
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA–2006–23628]
Child Safety and Child Booster Seats
Incentive Grants
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Announcement of grants for
child safety and child booster seats.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA)
announces a grant program under
Section 2011 of the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act—A Legacy of Users (SAFETEA–LU)
to implement programs to purchase and
distribute child restraints, support
enforcement of child restraint laws,
train child passenger safety
professionals concerning all aspects of
child restraint use, and educate the
public concerning the proper use and
installation of child restraints. This
notice solicits applications from the fifty
States, the District of Columbia, and
Puerto Rico.
DATES: Applications must be received
by the office designated below on or
before July 1 of the applicable fiscal
year.
Applications must be
submitted to the appropriate National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Regional Administrator.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
program issues: Judy Hammond, Injury
Control Operations and Resources, NTI–
200, telephone (202) 366–2121, fax (202)
366–7394. For legal issues: David
Bonelli, Office of Chief Counsel, NCC–
113, telephone (202) 366–1834, fax (202)
366–3820, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
Background
Incentive Grants for Child Safety Seats
and Child Booster Seats
Section 2011 of SAFETEA–LU (Pub.
L. 109–59) establishes an incentive grant
program for child safety seats and child
booster seats. To qualify for grant funds,
States must ‘‘enforc[e] a law requiring
that any child riding in a passenger
motor vehicle in the State who is too
large to be secured in a child safety seat
be secured in a child restraint that meets
the requirements prescribed by the
Secretary under section 3 of Anton’s
Law.’’ Prior to Anton’s Law, NHTSA’s
performance requirements for child
safety seats covered children weighing
PO 00000
Frm 00062
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
only up to 50 pounds.1 Anton’s Law
(Pub. L. 107–318) was enacted to
improve the safety and use of child
restraints for children between the ages
of 4 and 8. To accomplish these
purposes, Congress directed the
Department of Transportation, in
Section 3 of Anton’s Law, to make
Federal performance requirements
applicable to child restraints
recommended for children weighing
more than 50 pounds. On June 3, 2003,
pursuant to this mandate, NHTSA
published a final rule setting
performance requirements for child
restraints recommended for children
weighing up to 65 pounds.2
The Section 2011 grant program
advances the purposes of Anton’s Law
by awarding funds to States that extend
their child restraint laws to cover
children who are too large to fit in child
safety seats. Based on the final rule
promulgated under Section 3 of Anton’s
Law, Section 2011 requires States to
enforce child restraint laws whose
coverage extends to children weighing
up to 65 lbs.
Virtually all State child restraint laws
use the age of the child as a means of
specifying the children required to be
secured in child restraints. However,
not all State laws use the weight of the
child in defining coverage. Moreover,
enforcing a child restraint law based on
the age of the child is likely to be more
practicable for State and local
enforcement officials. For these reasons,
we are defining our grant criteria
according to the age that correlates to a
65-pound child. According to the most
recent U.S. Department of Health &
Human Services (DHHS) publication on
average body weight for children, the
average weight of a 7-year-old child is
59.8 pounds and the average weight of
an 8-year-old child is 72 pounds.3 On
the basis of this information, we have
selected 7 years old as the age that is
reasonably representative of a 65-pound
child for the purposes of this grant
program.
Minimum Requirements for a Grant
To qualify for a grant under this
program, therefore, a State must enact
1 These performance requirements were
established using a 6-year-old child dummy. The
weight of the dummy is 51.6 pounds. According to
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
statistics, 51.7 pounds is the average weight of a 6year-old child. Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D., et al, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Mean
Body Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index, United
States 1960–2002 (2004).
2 The 2003 performance requirements were
established using a 6-year-old child dummy
modified through the addition of weight (10.4
pounds) to represent approximately the weight of
an 8-year-old child.
3 OGDEN, supra note 1, at 3.
E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM
31JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 20 / Tuesday, January 31, 2006 / Notices
hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
and enforce a law requiring that any
child riding in a passenger motor
vehicle (i.e., a passenger car, pickup
truck, van, minivan or sport utility
vehicle) who is under 8 years of age be
secured in a child restraint. A child
restraint includes a child safety seat, as
defined in 23 U.S.C. 405(f), and a
booster seat, as defined in 49 CFR
571.213. The State child restraint law
must allow enforcement officials to stop
or detain a passenger motor vehicle and
issue a citation upon observation that a
child under 8 years of age is not
properly secured in a child restraint,
without the need for probable cause to
believe that another violation has been
committed.
Reading Section 2011 in conjunction
with the findings under Anton’s Law
(Section 2), it is clear that Congress
intended States to have continuous
coverage for all children subject to the
safety restraint requirement. Therefore,
to qualify for a grant under this
program, a State child restraint law
must not leave any gaps in coverage for
children under 8 years of age (e.g., gaps
between coverage by a child safety seat
and a booster seat). Such gaps would be
incongruous with the purpose of the
grant program. Finally, while all States
define coverage under their child
restraint laws according to the age of the
child, several States include weight
and/or height requirements. These laws
typically permit children who have
attained a certain weight or height to be
exempted from child restraint
requirements regardless of age.
Consistent with the final rule published
under Section 3 of Anton’s Law, a State
law covering children under 8 years of
age, but excluding children who have
attained a weight in excess of 65
pounds, will not be deemed ineligible
under this grant program. In addition,
consistent with long-standing NHTSA
guidance on booster seat usage, a State
law covering children under 8 years of
age, but excluding children who have
attained a height of 4 feet, 9 inches or
taller will not be deemed ineligible
under this grant program.
Exemptions
While NHTSA does not require or
encourage the adoption of exemptions,
the agency notes that many existing
child restraint laws contain a number of
exemptions. The agency believes that
the Section 2011 program’s goal of
increasing the use of child restraints
would not be served by denying a grant
to States whose laws contain
exemptions, without regard to the
nature of those exemptions. On the
other hand, some exemptions would so
severely undermine the safety
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:34 Jan 30, 2006
Jkt 208001
considerations underlying the grant
program as to render a State whose law
contains such exemptions ineligible for
a grant. The agency will review each
State’s child restraint law to determine
the acceptability of any exemptions. In
keeping with NHTSA’s practice in 1998
to implement the Section 405 grant
program under the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA–
21), the agency has reviewed existing
child restraint laws and has determined
that the following exemptions are not
incompatible with the requirements of
SAFETEA–LU:
• Children with medical conditions
who are unable to use a child restraint,
provided there is written documentation
from a physician;
• Children riding in a passenger
motor vehicle that is not required to be
equipped with safety belts.
The agency has accepted these
exemptions by long-standing
application in safety belt grant
programs. A State that enacts a law with
any exemption other than these should
anticipate that the agency will review
the exemption to determine whether its
impact on traffic safety is minimal and
it is, therefore, acceptable.
Eligibility
Each of the fifty United States, the
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
(‘‘States’’) may submit an application
under this program.
Application Procedures
First Year Requirements
To apply for grant funds, a State must
submit the certifications required by
Appendix 1, signed by the Governor’s
Representative for Highway Safety, to
the appropriate NHTSA Regional
Administrator no later than July 1 of the
fiscal year.
Subsequent Year Requirements
To demonstrate compliance with this
criterion in subsequent years a State
receives grant funds:
(a) If the State’s law has not changed,
the State must submit the certifications
required by Appendix 2, signed by the
Governor’s Representative for Highway
Safety, to the appropriate NHTSA
Regional Administrator no later than
July 1 of the fiscal year.
(b) If the State’s law has changed, the
State must submit the certifications
required by Appendix 1, signed by the
Governor’s Representative for Highway
Safety, to the appropriate NHTSA
Regional Administrator no later than
July 1 of the fiscal year.
A State seeking to determine whether
an existing or proposed child restraint
PO 00000
Frm 00063
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
5111
law qualifies under the grant program
may submit its law prior to July 1 for
preliminary review by the agency.
Award Procedures
Each fiscal year (FY), a grant will be
made to an eligible State upon
submission and approval of the
application required by this notice. As
specified by SAFETEA–LU, the amount
of a grant to a State in each fiscal year
shall not exceed 25 percent of the
amount apportioned to the State for FY
2003 under 23 U.S.C. 402. The release
of grant funds shall be subject to the
availability of funding for that fiscal
year. As required by SAFETEA–LU, in
the first 3 fiscal years for which a State
receives a grant, it shall be reimbursed
for up to 75 percent of the costs of
programs and activities authorized by
Section 2011(d) of SAFETEA–LU, and
in the fourth fiscal year for which a
State receives a grant, it shall be
reimbursed for up to 50 percent of the
costs of programs and activities
authorized by Section 2011(d) of
SAFETEA–LU.
Use of Grant Funds
As specified by SAFETEA–LU,
eligible uses of grant funds may include
any of the following:
1. Programs for Purchasing and
Distributing Child Restraints to LowIncome Families
States may use grant funds for
programs to purchase and distribute
child restraints to low-income families.
However, as required by SAFETEA–LU,
not more than 50 percent of the funds
received in a fiscal year may be used for
these programs. The child restraints
purchased and distributed must be
certified to meet applicable Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Low
income is calculated at 185 percent of
the Federal poverty level. A certified
child passenger safety technician/
instructor should supervise all child
restraint distribution programs and
ensure that adequate training based on
the Standardized Curriculum is
provided to those distributing the
selected seats. The certified child
passenger safety technician/instructor
should also ensure that appropriate
training is provided to the recipients of
the seats.
2. Programs to Support Enforcement of
Child Restraint Laws
States may use grant funds to carry
out a program to support enforcement of
child restraint laws. A successful
enforcement program should increase
enforcement efforts during national
high-visibility law enforcement
E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM
31JAN1
5112
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 20 / Tuesday, January 31, 2006 / Notices
mobilization campaigns and Child
Passenger Safety (CPS) week.
3. Programs To Train Child Safety
Professionals, Police Officers, Fire and
Emergency Medical Personnel,
Educators, and Parents Concerning All
Aspects of the Use of Child Restraints
States may use grant funds to carry
out a program to train child passenger
safety professionals, police officers, fire
and emergency medical personnel,
educators, parents, and caregivers
concerning all aspects of the use of
child restraints. When training
participants to become national Child
Passenger Safety Technicians and/or
Instructors, States must use the NHTSA
Standardized Child Passenger Safety
Training Program with training
certification through the national
certifying body. States are encouraged to
conduct Child Passenger Safety
awareness training using NHTSA
approved courses.
hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
4. Programs To Educate the Public
Concerning the Proper Use and
Installation of Child Restraints
States may use grant funds to carry
out a program to educate the public
concerning the proper use and
installation of child restraints. States
should develop and sustain a cadre of
current nationally certified Child
Passenger Safety Technicians to serve
the public by staffing inspection
stations/check-up events/clinics. States
should distribute public information
and education materials to the public.
States should use NHTSA-developed
materials that provide information on
all the ‘‘steps’’ of child restraints,
including infant seats, convertible seats,
forward-facing seats, booster seats and
safety belts, and should include
information on selection, direction,
installation and location.
Financial Requirements
Within 30 days after notification of an
award, but in no event later than
September 12, a State must submit
electronically to the agency a Program
Cost Summary (HS Form 217) obligating
the funds to this program. A Program
Cost Summary is necessary to ensure
proper accounting for the Federal funds
and is a precondition to receiving grant
funds. Additionally, each fiscal year
until all grant funds are expended, the
State must document how it intends to
use the funds in the Highway Safety
Plan it submits pursuant to 23 U.S.C.
402 (or in an amendment to that plan).
Reporting Requirements
A State that receives a grant is
required by SAFETEA–LU to submit a
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:34 Jan 30, 2006
Jkt 208001
report describing how funds were
obligated and expended. Each fiscal
year until all Child Restraint grant funds
are expended, a State must include this
report in the Annual Report it submits
for its highway safety program pursuant
to 23 CFR 1200.33. For each of the
eligible uses of grant funds selected by
the State, include the following:
1. For programs to purchase and
distribute child restraints for lowincome families:
a. A description of the programs used
to purchase and distribute child
restraints for low-income families.
b. The number of child restraints
distributed.
2. For programs to support
enforcement of child restraint laws:
a. A description of the programs used
to support enforcement of child restraint
laws.
b. A list of participating law
enforcement agencies and the counties
they serve.
3. For programs to train child
passenger safety professionals:
a. A description of the training classes
conducted and the curricula used to
train individuals and groups.
b. The number and location of
training classes conducted and the
individuals or groups trained.
c. The number of child passenger
safety technicians certified.
4. For programs to educate the public:
a. A description of the programs used
to educate the public concerning the
proper use and installation of child
restraints.
b. A list of child restraint inspection
stations/check-up events/clinics,
including their locations.
c. An estimate of the number of child
restraints checked at inspection
stations/check-up events/clinics.
programs in accordance with the
requirements of Section 2011(d) of
SAFETEA–LU, Pub. L. 109–59;
• will administer the child restraint grant
funds in accordance with 49 CFR Part 18;
• will provide to the NHTSA Regional
Administrator a report describing the
activities executed with child restraint grant
funds and the accomplishments of the fiscal
year; and
• will maintain its aggregate expenditures
from all other sources for child restraint
programs at or above the average level of
such expenditures in State or Federal fiscal
years (FY) 2003 and 2004.
lllllllllllllllllllll
Governor’s Highway Safety Representative
Date: llllllllllllllllll
APPENDIX 2—CHILD RESTRAINT
PROGRAM CERTIFICATION FORM—
UNCHANGED LAW
State: llllllllllllllllll
Fiscal Year: lllllllllllllll
I hereby certify that the State (or
Commonwealth) of
lllllllllllllllllllll
• is enforcing a child restraint law that has
been approved by NHTSA to conform to the
requirements of Section 2011(d) of
SAFETEA–LU, Pub. L. 109–59 and that has
remained unchanged since that approval;
• will use the child restraint grant funds
awarded exclusively to implement programs
in accordance with the requirements of
Section 2011(d) of SAFETEA–LU, Pub. L.
109–59;
• will administer the child restraint grant
funds in accordance with 49 CFR Part 18;
• will provide to the NHTSA Regional
Administrator a report describing the
activities executed with child restraint grant
funds and the accomplishments of the fiscal
year; and
• will maintain its aggregate expenditures
from all other sources for child restraint
APPENDIX 1—CHILD RESTRAINT
programs at or above the average level of
PROGRAM CETIFICATION FORM—NEW
such expenditures in State or Federal fiscal
OR CHANGED LAW
years (FY) 2003 and 2004.
State: llllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllll
Fiscal Year: lllllllllllllll Governor’s Highway Safety Representative
I hereby certify that the child restaint law,
Date: llllllllllllllllll
available at
Issued on: January 25, 2006.
lllllllllllllllllllll
Jacqueline Glassman,
(include legal citations to all relevant
provisions)
Deputy Administrator.
is (check one):
[FR Doc. E6–1156 Filed 1–30–06; 8:45 am]
b in effect and being enforced,
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
b will be in effect on
lllllllllllllllllllll
(date)
and will be enforced on
lllllllllllllllllllll
(date)
and that the State (or Commonwealth) of:
lllllllllllllllllllll
• will use the child restraint grant funds
awarded exclusively to implement
PO 00000
Frm 00064
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM
31JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5110-5112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1156]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2006-23628]
Child Safety and Child Booster Seats Incentive Grants
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Announcement of grants for child safety and child booster
seats.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
announces a grant program under Section 2011 of the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy of Users
(SAFETEA-LU) to implement programs to purchase and distribute child
restraints, support enforcement of child restraint laws, train child
passenger safety professionals concerning all aspects of child
restraint use, and educate the public concerning the proper use and
installation of child restraints. This notice solicits applications
from the fifty States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
DATES: Applications must be received by the office designated below on
or before July 1 of the applicable fiscal year.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to the appropriate National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration Regional Administrator.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program issues: Judy Hammond,
Injury Control Operations and Resources, NTI-200, telephone (202) 366-
2121, fax (202) 366-7394. For legal issues: David Bonelli, Office of
Chief Counsel, NCC-113, telephone (202) 366-1834, fax (202) 366-3820,
NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Incentive Grants for Child Safety Seats and Child Booster Seats
Section 2011 of SAFETEA-LU (Pub. L. 109-59) establishes an
incentive grant program for child safety seats and child booster seats.
To qualify for grant funds, States must ``enforc[e] a law requiring
that any child riding in a passenger motor vehicle in the State who is
too large to be secured in a child safety seat be secured in a child
restraint that meets the requirements prescribed by the Secretary under
section 3 of Anton's Law.'' Prior to Anton's Law, NHTSA's performance
requirements for child safety seats covered children weighing only up
to 50 pounds.\1\ Anton's Law (Pub. L. 107-318) was enacted to improve
the safety and use of child restraints for children between the ages of
4 and 8. To accomplish these purposes, Congress directed the Department
of Transportation, in Section 3 of Anton's Law, to make Federal
performance requirements applicable to child restraints recommended for
children weighing more than 50 pounds. On June 3, 2003, pursuant to
this mandate, NHTSA published a final rule setting performance
requirements for child restraints recommended for children weighing up
to 65 pounds.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These performance requirements were established using a 6-
year-old child dummy. The weight of the dummy is 51.6 pounds.
According to U.S. Department of Health & Human Services statistics,
51.7 pounds is the average weight of a 6-year-old child. Cynthia L.
Ogden, Ph.D., et al, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Mean Body Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index, United States 1960-
2002 (2004).
\2\ The 2003 performance requirements were established using a
6-year-old child dummy modified through the addition of weight (10.4
pounds) to represent approximately the weight of an 8-year-old
child.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Section 2011 grant program advances the purposes of Anton's Law
by awarding funds to States that extend their child restraint laws to
cover children who are too large to fit in child safety seats. Based on
the final rule promulgated under Section 3 of Anton's Law, Section 2011
requires States to enforce child restraint laws whose coverage extends
to children weighing up to 65 lbs.
Virtually all State child restraint laws use the age of the child
as a means of specifying the children required to be secured in child
restraints. However, not all State laws use the weight of the child in
defining coverage. Moreover, enforcing a child restraint law based on
the age of the child is likely to be more practicable for State and
local enforcement officials. For these reasons, we are defining our
grant criteria according to the age that correlates to a 65-pound
child. According to the most recent U.S. Department of Health & Human
Services (DHHS) publication on average body weight for children, the
average weight of a 7-year-old child is 59.8 pounds and the average
weight of an 8-year-old child is 72 pounds.\3\ On the basis of this
information, we have selected 7 years old as the age that is reasonably
representative of a 65-pound child for the purposes of this grant
program.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ OGDEN, supra note 1, at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum Requirements for a Grant
To qualify for a grant under this program, therefore, a State must
enact
[[Page 5111]]
and enforce a law requiring that any child riding in a passenger motor
vehicle (i.e., a passenger car, pickup truck, van, minivan or sport
utility vehicle) who is under 8 years of age be secured in a child
restraint. A child restraint includes a child safety seat, as defined
in 23 U.S.C. 405(f), and a booster seat, as defined in 49 CFR 571.213.
The State child restraint law must allow enforcement officials to stop
or detain a passenger motor vehicle and issue a citation upon
observation that a child under 8 years of age is not properly secured
in a child restraint, without the need for probable cause to believe
that another violation has been committed.
Reading Section 2011 in conjunction with the findings under Anton's
Law (Section 2), it is clear that Congress intended States to have
continuous coverage for all children subject to the safety restraint
requirement. Therefore, to qualify for a grant under this program, a
State child restraint law must not leave any gaps in coverage for
children under 8 years of age (e.g., gaps between coverage by a child
safety seat and a booster seat). Such gaps would be incongruous with
the purpose of the grant program. Finally, while all States define
coverage under their child restraint laws according to the age of the
child, several States include weight and/or height requirements. These
laws typically permit children who have attained a certain weight or
height to be exempted from child restraint requirements regardless of
age. Consistent with the final rule published under Section 3 of
Anton's Law, a State law covering children under 8 years of age, but
excluding children who have attained a weight in excess of 65 pounds,
will not be deemed ineligible under this grant program. In addition,
consistent with long-standing NHTSA guidance on booster seat usage, a
State law covering children under 8 years of age, but excluding
children who have attained a height of 4 feet, 9 inches or taller will
not be deemed ineligible under this grant program.
Exemptions
While NHTSA does not require or encourage the adoption of
exemptions, the agency notes that many existing child restraint laws
contain a number of exemptions. The agency believes that the Section
2011 program's goal of increasing the use of child restraints would not
be served by denying a grant to States whose laws contain exemptions,
without regard to the nature of those exemptions. On the other hand,
some exemptions would so severely undermine the safety considerations
underlying the grant program as to render a State whose law contains
such exemptions ineligible for a grant. The agency will review each
State's child restraint law to determine the acceptability of any
exemptions. In keeping with NHTSA's practice in 1998 to implement the
Section 405 grant program under the Transportation Equity Act for the
21st Century (TEA-21), the agency has reviewed existing child restraint
laws and has determined that the following exemptions are not
incompatible with the requirements of SAFETEA-LU:
Children with medical conditions who are unable to use a
child restraint, provided there is written documentation from a
physician;
Children riding in a passenger motor vehicle that is not
required to be equipped with safety belts.
The agency has accepted these exemptions by long-standing
application in safety belt grant programs. A State that enacts a law
with any exemption other than these should anticipate that the agency
will review the exemption to determine whether its impact on traffic
safety is minimal and it is, therefore, acceptable.
Eligibility
Each of the fifty United States, the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico (``States'') may submit an application under this program.
Application Procedures
First Year Requirements
To apply for grant funds, a State must submit the certifications
required by Appendix 1, signed by the Governor's Representative for
Highway Safety, to the appropriate NHTSA Regional Administrator no
later than July 1 of the fiscal year.
Subsequent Year Requirements
To demonstrate compliance with this criterion in subsequent years a
State receives grant funds:
(a) If the State's law has not changed, the State must submit the
certifications required by Appendix 2, signed by the Governor's
Representative for Highway Safety, to the appropriate NHTSA Regional
Administrator no later than July 1 of the fiscal year.
(b) If the State's law has changed, the State must submit the
certifications required by Appendix 1, signed by the Governor's
Representative for Highway Safety, to the appropriate NHTSA Regional
Administrator no later than July 1 of the fiscal year.
A State seeking to determine whether an existing or proposed child
restraint law qualifies under the grant program may submit its law
prior to July 1 for preliminary review by the agency.
Award Procedures
Each fiscal year (FY), a grant will be made to an eligible State
upon submission and approval of the application required by this
notice. As specified by SAFETEA-LU, the amount of a grant to a State in
each fiscal year shall not exceed 25 percent of the amount apportioned
to the State for FY 2003 under 23 U.S.C. 402. The release of grant
funds shall be subject to the availability of funding for that fiscal
year. As required by SAFETEA-LU, in the first 3 fiscal years for which
a State receives a grant, it shall be reimbursed for up to 75 percent
of the costs of programs and activities authorized by Section 2011(d)
of SAFETEA-LU, and in the fourth fiscal year for which a State receives
a grant, it shall be reimbursed for up to 50 percent of the costs of
programs and activities authorized by Section 2011(d) of SAFETEA-LU.
Use of Grant Funds
As specified by SAFETEA-LU, eligible uses of grant funds may
include any of the following:
1. Programs for Purchasing and Distributing Child Restraints to Low-
Income Families
States may use grant funds for programs to purchase and distribute
child restraints to low-income families. However, as required by
SAFETEA-LU, not more than 50 percent of the funds received in a fiscal
year may be used for these programs. The child restraints purchased and
distributed must be certified to meet applicable Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards. Low income is calculated at 185 percent of the
Federal poverty level. A certified child passenger safety technician/
instructor should supervise all child restraint distribution programs
and ensure that adequate training based on the Standardized Curriculum
is provided to those distributing the selected seats. The certified
child passenger safety technician/instructor should also ensure that
appropriate training is provided to the recipients of the seats.
2. Programs to Support Enforcement of Child Restraint Laws
States may use grant funds to carry out a program to support
enforcement of child restraint laws. A successful enforcement program
should increase enforcement efforts during national high-visibility law
enforcement
[[Page 5112]]
mobilization campaigns and Child Passenger Safety (CPS) week.
3. Programs To Train Child Safety Professionals, Police Officers, Fire
and Emergency Medical Personnel, Educators, and Parents Concerning All
Aspects of the Use of Child Restraints
States may use grant funds to carry out a program to train child
passenger safety professionals, police officers, fire and emergency
medical personnel, educators, parents, and caregivers concerning all
aspects of the use of child restraints. When training participants to
become national Child Passenger Safety Technicians and/or Instructors,
States must use the NHTSA Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training
Program with training certification through the national certifying
body. States are encouraged to conduct Child Passenger Safety awareness
training using NHTSA approved courses.
4. Programs To Educate the Public Concerning the Proper Use and
Installation of Child Restraints
States may use grant funds to carry out a program to educate the
public concerning the proper use and installation of child restraints.
States should develop and sustain a cadre of current nationally
certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians to serve the public by
staffing inspection stations/check-up events/clinics. States should
distribute public information and education materials to the public.
States should use NHTSA-developed materials that provide information on
all the ``steps'' of child restraints, including infant seats,
convertible seats, forward-facing seats, booster seats and safety
belts, and should include information on selection, direction,
installation and location.
Financial Requirements
Within 30 days after notification of an award, but in no event
later than September 12, a State must submit electronically to the
agency a Program Cost Summary (HS Form 217) obligating the funds to
this program. A Program Cost Summary is necessary to ensure proper
accounting for the Federal funds and is a precondition to receiving
grant funds. Additionally, each fiscal year until all grant funds are
expended, the State must document how it intends to use the funds in
the Highway Safety Plan it submits pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 402 (or in an
amendment to that plan).
Reporting Requirements
A State that receives a grant is required by SAFETEA-LU to submit a
report describing how funds were obligated and expended. Each fiscal
year until all Child Restraint grant funds are expended, a State must
include this report in the Annual Report it submits for its highway
safety program pursuant to 23 CFR 1200.33. For each of the eligible
uses of grant funds selected by the State, include the following:
1. For programs to purchase and distribute child restraints for
low-income families:
a. A description of the programs used to purchase and distribute
child restraints for low-income families.
b. The number of child restraints distributed.
2. For programs to support enforcement of child restraint laws:
a. A description of the programs used to support enforcement of
child restraint laws.
b. A list of participating law enforcement agencies and the
counties they serve.
3. For programs to train child passenger safety professionals:
a. A description of the training classes conducted and the
curricula used to train individuals and groups.
b. The number and location of training classes conducted and the
individuals or groups trained.
c. The number of child passenger safety technicians certified.
4. For programs to educate the public:
a. A description of the programs used to educate the public
concerning the proper use and installation of child restraints.
b. A list of child restraint inspection stations/check-up events/
clinics, including their locations.
c. An estimate of the number of child restraints checked at
inspection stations/check-up events/clinics.
APPENDIX 1--CHILD RESTRAINT PROGRAM CETIFICATION FORM--NEW OR CHANGED
LAW
State:-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year:-----------------------------------------------------------
I hereby certify that the child restaint law, available at
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(include legal citations to all relevant provisions)
is (check one):
[squ] in effect and being enforced,
[squ] will be in effect on
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(date)
and will be enforced on
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(date)
and that the State (or Commonwealth) of:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
will use the child restraint grant funds awarded
exclusively to implement programs in accordance with the
requirements of Section 2011(d) of SAFETEA-LU, Pub. L. 109-59;
will administer the child restraint grant funds in
accordance with 49 CFR Part 18;
will provide to the NHTSA Regional Administrator a
report describing the activities executed with child restraint grant
funds and the accomplishments of the fiscal year; and
will maintain its aggregate expenditures from all other
sources for child restraint programs at or above the average level
of such expenditures in State or Federal fiscal years (FY) 2003 and
2004.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Governor's Highway Safety Representative
Date:------------------------------------------------------------------
APPENDIX 2--CHILD RESTRAINT PROGRAM CERTIFICATION FORM--UNCHANGED LAW
State:-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year:-----------------------------------------------------------
I hereby certify that the State (or Commonwealth) of
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
is enforcing a child restraint law that has been
approved by NHTSA to conform to the requirements of Section 2011(d)
of SAFETEA-LU, Pub. L. 109-59 and that has remained unchanged since
that approval;
will use the child restraint grant funds awarded
exclusively to implement programs in accordance with the
requirements of Section 2011(d) of SAFETEA-LU, Pub. L. 109-59;
will administer the child restraint grant funds in
accordance with 49 CFR Part 18;
will provide to the NHTSA Regional Administrator a
report describing the activities executed with child restraint grant
funds and the accomplishments of the fiscal year; and
will maintain its aggregate expenditures from all other
sources for child restraint programs at or above the average level
of such expenditures in State or Federal fiscal years (FY) 2003 and
2004.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Governor's Highway Safety Representative
Date:------------------------------------------------------------------
Issued on: January 25, 2006.
Jacqueline Glassman,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-1156 Filed 1-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
