Infant Safety Seat Legislation Passes Transportation Committee
Assembly Bill 400 is available to be scheduled for a vote before the full Assembly when they reconvene in January.
MADISON – Endorsed by over 15 organizations and cosponsored by nearly 30 legislators, Assembly Bill 400, the Infant Safety Seat bill, passed the Assembly Committee on Transportation with strong bipartisan support earlier today. Authored by State Representative Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton) and State Representative Chris Taylor (D-Madison), Assembly Bill 400 requires infants to be rear-facing in their car seats until age 2.
“Today’s vote by the Assembly Transportation Committee puts us one step closer to ensuring our state laws accurately reflect the recommendations of safety and medical experts for when our children are traveling in a vehicle,” stated Rep. Loudenbeck.
Assembly Bill 400 is supported by Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Columbia St. Mary’s, Ministry Health Care, AAA, General Motors, Safe Kids Wisconsin, the City of Madison, Gundersen Lutheran Administrative Services, Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, Sentry Insurance, the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Wisconsin County Police Association, the Wisconsin Medical Society, Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Child Passenger Safety Association, UW Health – American Family Children’s Hospital and the Wisconsin Professional Police Association.
Medical experts support modifying the current statute to two years of age because studies show children are far more likely to survive a serious crash. Before this age, regardless of height or weight, an infants’ skeletal system is not strong or developed enough to protect the child from life-threatening injuries.
“This bill is a win for both Wisconsin’s kids and their parents. Not only are we ensuring our kids are in the safest position possible when in a car, but we eliminate the confusion in our laws by providing parents with the information and guidance they need to best protect their child,” concluded Rep. Taylor.
Assembly Bill 400 is available to be scheduled for a vote before the full Assembly when they reconvene in January.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
