September 28, 2000


TO: MCH and Car Seat Advocates

FROM: Alana Aronin

RE: Child Car Seat Safety Grants


The Senate Committee on Families, Mental Health and Human Services recently passed out Senate Bill 1346, which will enable the state to make grants for child car seat safety programs. The bill, as amended, would allow the state to begin making grants and bypass the rule-making process.

Now, the full Senate will vote on the bill, followed by similar processes in the House of Representatives. The bill was virtually unchanged in the Senate committee, and similar ease is expected in each of the next phases.

Those interested in car seat safety should consider the following actions:

• Contact your Senator and Representative urging quick passage of Senate Bill 1346 before they adjourn for elections (as early as October 5th). This bill should be completed before the end of the year, so that it is not lost in the scramble of the new legislative session in January.
• Consider writing a letter to the editor or op/ed article stressing the importance of child car seats, mentioning this bill. Council staff are available to help shape such articles, if interested.
• Begin working on grant proposals with your local hospital, child safety networks, pediatricians, and anyone else interested in this issue. There was $300,000 appropriated earlier this year for this program.

As always, contact the Council at 517/482-5807 to update us on any communications you have on this or any other m/ch issue, so we may better direct our advocacy efforts.