Department of Health and Human Services May 30, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice of proposed rulemaking authorizes approval of annual waivers, under certain circumstances, from two provisions in the current Head Start transportation regulation (45 CFR part 1310): The requirement that each child be seated in a child restraint system while the vehicle is in motion, and the requirement that each bus have at least one bus monitor on board at all times. Waivers would be granted when the Head Start or Early Head Start grantee demonstrates that compliance with the requirement(s) for which the waiver is being sought will result in a significant disruption to the Head Start program or the Early Head Start program and that waiving the requirement(s) is in the best interest of the children involved. The proposed rules also would revise the definition of child restraint system in the regulation. The proposed change in the definition would remove the reference to weight which now conflicts with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The regulation also is being amended to reflect new effective dates for Sec. Sec. 1310.12(a) and 1310.22(a) on the required use of school buses or allowable alternate vehicles and the required availability of such vehicles adapted for use of children with disabilities, as the result of enactment of Section 224 of Public Law 109-149.