LRB-3272/4
ARG:bjk:rs
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
March 4, 2008 - Introduced by Senators Hansen, Breske and Carpenter,
cosponsored by Representatives
Soletski, Nelson, Hahn, Gronemus,
Hraychuck, Benedict, Richards, Boyle, Turner and Berceau. Referred to
Committee on Transportation and Tourism.
SB561,1,5
1An Act to amend 343.20 (2) (a); and
to create 38.04 (4) (e) 4., 85.07 (9), 115.28
2(11) (d) and 343.71 (5) (d) of the statutes;
relating to: creating a child safety
3program in the Department of Transportation, driver education instruction,
4information mailed in connection with motor vehicle operator's license
5renewal, and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law requires all driver education courses offered by school districts,
county children with disabilities education boards, technical college districts, and
driver schools to provide instruction related to farm machinery, animal, and railroad
grade crossing hazards, organ and tissue donation, and motorcycle, bicycle, and
pedestrian awareness.
This bill requires driver education courses to also acquaint each student with
the hazards of leaving young children unattended in vehicles, of motor vehicle blind
spots, of backing motor vehicles around small children, and of accidental activation
of power windows and to provide instruction in safely dealing with such hazards.
Under current law, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must mail a notice
to each person holding an operator's license, at least 30 days before license
expiration, advising of the date on which the license must be renewed.
This bill requires DOT to develop and administer a child safety program to
provide information to the public about potential vehicle hazards to young children.
The program must include information on risks to young children left unattended in
vehicles and on ways in which parents and caregivers can reduce risks to young
children related to backover incidents and accidental activation of power windows.
The bill also requires DOT to include with the renewal notice a one-page
informational sheet reminding licensees of such hazards and containing such
information as well as accident statistics and other pertinent data related to these
hazards. DOT must promulgate rules to implement and administer the program.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB561, s. 1
1Section
1. 38.04 (4) (e) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
SB561,2,52
38.04
(4) (e) 4. Acquaints each student with the hazards of leaving young
3children unattended in vehicles, of motor vehicle blind spots, of backing motor
4vehicles around small children, and of accidental activation of power windows and
5provides instruction in safely dealing with such hazards.
SB561, s. 2
6Section
2. 85.07 (9) of the statutes is created to read:
SB561,2,77
85.07
(9) Child safety program and database. (a) In this subsection:
SB561,2,98
1. "Light motor vehicle" means an automobile or any other motor vehicle having
9a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, except a motorcycle.
SB561,2,1310
2. "Off-highway accident" means an event causing injury or death to a child
11that results from any movement, device, or function of a light motor vehicle and that
12does not involve the collision of the light motor vehicle with another vehicle or object
13or the rolling over of the light motor vehicle.
SB561,3,614
(b) The department shall develop and administer a child safety program to
15provide information to the public, including on the department's Internet site, about
16hazards to young children in potential off-highway accident situations. The
17program shall include information on risks to young children left unattended in
18vehicles, on ways in which parents and caregivers can reduce risks to young children
1relating to backover incidents and accidental activation of power windows, and on
2any other risks that the department determines should be addressed. In developing
3and administering the program, the department shall utilize information collected
4by the department and other relevant data from private organizations to establish
5priorities for the program. The department shall promulgate rules to implement and
6administer this program.
SB561, s. 3
7Section
3. 115.28 (11) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB561,3,118
115.28
(11) (d) Acquaint each student with the hazards of leaving young
9children unattended in vehicles, of motor vehicle blind spots, of backing motor
10vehicles around small children, and of accidental activation of power windows and
11provide instruction in safely dealing with such hazards.
SB561, s. 4
12Section
4. 343.20 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB561,3,2313
343.20
(2) (a) The department shall mail to the last-known address of a
14licensee at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the license a notice of the date upon
15which the license must be renewed.
The department shall include, with each notice
16mailed under this paragraph, a one-page informational sheet reminding licensees
17of the hazards to young children in potential off-highway accident, as defined in s.
1885.07 (9), situations, and including information on risks to young children left
19unattended in vehicles, on ways in which parents and caregivers can reduce risks to
20young children relating to backover incidents and accidental activation of power
21windows, and on any other risks that the department determines should be
22addressed, as well as accident statistics and other pertinent data related to these
23hazards.
SB561, s. 5
24Section
5. 343.71 (5) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB561,4,4
1343.71
(5) (d) Acquaints each student with the hazards of leaving young
2children unattended in vehicles, of motor vehicle blind spots, of backing motor
3vehicles around small children, and of accidental activation of power windows and
4provides instruction in safely dealing with such hazards.
SB561,4,86
(1) The treatment of sections 38.04 (4) (e) 4., 115.28 (11) (d), and 343.71 (5) (d)
7of the statutes first applies to driver education courses that are begun on the effective
8date of this subsection.
SB561,4,1110
(1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 6th month beginning after
11publication.
