Vehicles: child passenger restraints.

(1) Existing law requires a public or private hospital, clinic, or birthing center, at the time of discharge of a child, to provide and discuss information on the current law requiring child passenger restraint systems, safety belts, and the transportation of children in rear seats to the parents or the person to whom the child is released if the child is under 8 years of age, but specifies that a public or private hospital, clinic, or birthing center shall not be responsible for the failure of the parent or person to whom the child is released to properly transport the child. This bill would require a public or private hospital, clinic, or birthing center, at the time a child under 8 years of age is discharged, to also provide and discuss contact information relating to obtaining, at no cost or low cost, information and assistance relating to child passenger restraint system requirements, installation, and inspection, including, among other things, the telephone number of the local office of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. Because this bill would expand the definition of an existing crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.