Issues & Priorities
California Coalition for
Children's Safety and Health

THE CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR CHILDREN’S SAFETY & HEALTH

 

ABOUT THE COALITION: The California Coalition for Children’s Safety and Health has been actively involved in promoting public education and the advancement of public policy related to the prevention of unintentional injury and the safety and health of California’s children and youth since 1991.

 

Initiated and funded by the insurance industry, and led by the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies, the Coalition brings together a number of children’s safety and health organizations, the PTA, Junior League, representatives from the insurance industry, State Department of Public Health, County Health Departments, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the UCLA School of Public Health. Over the past seventeen years, the Coalition has seen many of their public policy recommendations become law, including the passage of laws affecting the safety and well-being of babies, toddlers, young children and teens. 

 

With unintentional injuries surpassing all childhood diseases combined, the role of prevention is a pressing public health issue in which solutions require diverse strategies and strategic partnerships, exemplified by the Coalition’s membership.  Nearly 3,000 children die each year as a result of preventable injuries and many times that number survive but are seriously injured. For some, the injuries sustained will be permanent, life altering changes that will impact the child and their families.  It is these preventable tragedies which drive the Coalition’s mission to succeed.

 

The Coalition has sponsored legislation requiring children to wear helmets when riding bicycles, skateboards, in-line skates and scooters; safety devices to prevent drowning in new pools; proper draining systems in pools and spas; mandatory use of flotation devices when aboard a boat; warning labels on five gallon buckets to prevent drowning; a requirement that young children be placed in a booster seat while passengers in a car; and the establishment of the “Kids’ Plate” license plate program which funds child abuse and injury prevention programs. (See Issues & Priorities on the following pages).

 

The Coalition retains the firm Sacramento Advocacy to direct the activities and public policy work of the organization.

 

 

CCCSH PUBLIC POLICY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 

1992 

AB 3087 (Speier) Kids’ Plates: This bill, co-sponsored by CCCSH, established the “Kids’ Plate” vehicle license plate to provide funding for children’s safety and injury prevention programs and child abuse prevention through the sale of plates that include symbols of a hand, a heart, a plus sign and a star. Signed into law.

 

AB 2942 (Archie Hudson) Buckets: This measure, supported by CCCSH, requires manufacturers of 5 gallon buckets to include a warning label on the bucket of the potential for child drownings. Signed into law.

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1993

AB 2268 (Caldera) Bicycle Helmets: This CCCSH sponsored bill requires children under the age of 18 to wear safety helmets when riding bicycles. Signed into law.

 

AB 1856 (Speier) Flotation Devices: This measure, supported by CCCSH, requires children 6 years old and younger to wear flotation devices while on board a vessel that is underway. Signed into law.

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1994

AB 3760 (Speier) Crib Safety: This measure, co-sponsored with CCCSH member the Danny Foundation, establishes safety standards for cribs sold in California. Signed into law.

 

Bicycle Safety Network:  Following the successful passage of the bicycle helmet legislation, this network was established to share resources and expertise in promoting bicycle safety in California. This effort was funded by the Office of Traffic Safety and continued through 1995.

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1995

Swimming Pool Safety: Building Standards Commission: CCCSH and the Drowning Prevention Foundation co-sponsored a regulatory petition to the Building Standards Commission requesting that they update California’s uniform building code to incorporate drowning prevention strategies in the construction of residential swimming pools.

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1996

AB 3305 (Setencich/Speier) Pool Safety: This measure, sponsored by CCCSH, established the Swimming Pool Safety Act, requiring new pools built after January 1, 1998 to have one of five specified safety devices in order to prevent toddler drowning. Signed into law.

 

AB 1856 (Speier) Life Jackets: This bill requires children 6 years of age and under to wear flotation devices while on board a vessel that is underway. Signed into law.

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1997

SB 1329 (Leslie) Teen Driving: This measure, supported by CCCSH, established the Graduated Drivers’ License program which restricts the driving privileges of new teen drivers for the first six months of their driving. Signed into law.

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1998

Assembly Transportation Special Hearing on Child Passenger Safety: This hearing, which was called by the Chair of the Committee, Assembly Member Kevin Murray, was convened to bring expert testimony and currant data for the purpose of educating committee members on the leading cause of death and disability for children ages 4 – 12. It was also the impetus for developing future public policy. Individuals who testified at this hearing included Stephen Greeholz, M.D. of U.C. Davis; Roger Trent, Ph.D., Ca. Department of Health Services; Arthur Anderson, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety; Joe Farrow, Assistance Chief of the California Highway Patrol; Sheryll Bolton, R.N., Orange County Health Care Agency; and Ken Cooley, Counsel, State Farm.

 

ACR 147 (Murray) Child Passenger Safety Resolution: This measure encouraged the judiciary, law enforcement, the public health and health care communities, passenger safety specialists, and child advocates to continue their diligent efforts to ensure the safety of California’s children through enforcement and public education of our child passenger restraint laws and effective passenger safety practices.

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2000

SB 567 (Speier) Booster Seats: This CCCSH sponsored bill increased the age at which a child is required to be restrained in a booster seat from 4 to 6 years of age, and increased weight requirements for this provision from 40 pounds to 60 pounds. This measure also increased fines for violating this provision. Signed into law.

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2001

SB 255 (Speier) Children in Vehicles: This measure, co-sponsored with the “Kids in Cars” organization, makes it illegal to leave young children unattended in a vehicle. Signed into law.

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2002

SB 1924 (O’Connell) Helmets: This CCCSH co-sponsored bill requires youth under that age of 18 to wear an approved helmet when skateboarding, riding a scooter or using rollerblades.

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2003

AB 24 (Negrete-McLeod) Swimming Pool Safety: This measure would encourage a private entity, in consultation with the Epidemiology and Prevention for Injury Control Branch within the State Department of Health Services, to produce an informative brochure or booklet for consumer use, explaining child drowning hazards, recommended safety measures and appropriate drowning hazard prevention measures for home swimming pools and spas, and to donate the document to the department.

 

AB 1697 (Pavley) Rear Seat Requirement: This measure requires children under the age of six or less than 60 pounds to be in a child seat restraint in the rear seat of the vehicle with some specified exceptions. Signed by the Governor.

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2004

Baby Bath Seats: Monitored the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s regulatory oversight of baby bath seats. Misuse of baby bath seats have resulted in over 100 infant deaths nationally. CCCSH, the Drowning Prevention Foundation and the Danny Foundation submitted letters in support of the Commission’s regulatory hearings. 

 

Child Passenger Safety Public Education: CCCSH worked with statewide child advocacy networks such as the PTA and others, to inform the public about the new Child Passenger Safety laws (Speier and Pavley legislation). Circulated copies of the legislation, posted information on the CCCSH website, and distributed informational brochures.

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2005

Passenger Safety: Statewide Child Passenger Safety Legislative Task Force: CCCSH worked with Senator Jackie Speier to convene this group of statewide stakeholders to develop model language to bring California’s Passenger Safety laws in line with federal recommendations and best practices.

 

Stakeholders included the California Department of Health Services, the California Highway Patrol, UC Davis Medical Center, Oakland Children’s Hospital, San Diego Children’s Hospital, AAA, Farmer’s Insurance, State Farm, Safe Kids, LA County Department of Health, Sacramento County Department of Health, the Safety Center, San Diego State University, and Safety Belt Safe.

 

SB 12 (Escutia) School Nutrition: This CCCSH supported bill prohibits 

the sale of certain unhealthy beverages and food items, as specified, at all middle, 

junior high, and high schools, commencing July 1, 2007. The bill also stated that 

it was the intent of the Legislature that the governing board of a school district 

annually review its compliance with certain nutrition standards.

 

Teen Driver Interim Hearings: Senator Tom Torlakson held two hearings on teen driver safety issues. CCCSH provided assistance by identifying key witnesses to participate and shared pertinent data and resource materials.

 

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2006

AB 2108 (Evans) Booster Seats: Sponsored by CCCSH, this measure would have expended the current booster seat requirement by requiring any child who is under 8 years of age to be secured in a rear seat in an appropriate child passenger restrain system. Vetoed. The Governor’s veto message is below:

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 2108 without my signature.

As the father of four, I am very supportive of laws designed to protect 

children. Unfortunately, simply increasing the maximum age requirement for 

children to be restrained by vehicle booster seats, as proposed by AB 2108, 

will do little to actually better protect our children.

Parental responsibility is the key to protecting our children. Studies 

from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) show 

overwhelmingly that driver restraint use is the strongest predictor of 

child restraint use. It is most often the case that those that use seatbelts 

themselves also properly restrain their young passengers. Conversely, those who 

disregard seatbelt

laws also fail to properly secure their children. If all adults responsible 

for young children were to comply with current laws related to child restraint 

systems, many tragic injuries and deaths could be avoided. As such, the way to 

better protect our children is through education of and compliance with existing 

laws, not the addition of new ones.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

AB 2977 (Mullin) Swimming Pool and Spa Safety Act: Sponsored by CCCSH, 

this measure provided that whenever a building permit is issued for a new swimming pool at a 

private, single family home, the pool shall be equipped with at least one of 7 drowning prevention 

safety features instead of 6, by adding removable mesh fencing meeting standards of the American 

Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM); and swimming pool alarms meeting ASTM standards.  

The bill also specified that spas must be covered with a lockable or latchable cover. Signed into law.

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2007

AB 57 (Soto) Safe Routes to School: This measure, supported by CCCSH, deletes the January 1, 2008 repeal date of the Safe Routes to School construction program. Status: Signed into law.

 

AB 478 (Wolk) Bicycle Safety: Expands the places where a bicycle is required to use an illuminated lamp and reflecting devices.  Signed into law.

 

AB 881 (Mullin) Booster Seats: Sponsored by CCCSH, this measure re-introduced AB 2108 (Evans) and would have expended the current booster seat requirement by requiring any child who is under 8 years of age to be secured in a rear seat in an appropriate child passenger restrain system. Vetoed by the Governor. The Governor’s veto message is below.

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 881 without my signature.

Along with every Californian, I share a genuine concern for the safety 

and well being of young passengers traveling in motor vehicles with their 

parents.  Ultimately, it has to be the parents who are responsible for 

their children's safety.

In my veto message last year on this same subject (AB 2108), I stated my 

belief that the way to protect children was through efforts focused on 

the education and enforcement of existing laws, not the addition of new 

ones. I have not changed my mind.

Parents set the example for their children and the first rule of car 

seat safety is to buckle up.  In 2006, California achieved a seat belt 

use rate of 93.4 percent, and parents who use their seat belts are 

more likely to properly restrain their children.  Vital keys to successfully 

protecting our children are the continuation of high visibility law 

enforcement campaigns such as "Click It or Ticket It" and educational 

campaigns designed to instruct parents on the proper use of child 

restraint systems and seat belts.

Rather than repeatedly passing new laws in response to the age, 

height or weight factors of our children and modifying legal requirements, 

a better strategy is to move towards full compliance with the laws we 

already have.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

 

SB 793 (Harman) Public Swimming Pools: Requires lifeguards at public swimming pools to possess, as minimal qualifications, current certificates from the Red Cross or YMCA lifeguard training programs or equivalent qualifications, and to have been trained to administer first aid. Signed into law.

SCR 12 (Alquist) Brain Injury Awareness Month: Designates the month of March each year as Brain Injury Awareness Month.  Chaptered.

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2008

SB 1386 (Lowenthal) Carbon Monoxide Detectors: This measure, co-sponsored 

by CCCSH, would have required all owners of residential units to install carbon 

monoxide detectors.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. 

Each year carbon monoxide kills more than 2,000 people and injures another 

15,000 people nationwide. The State Air Resources Board estimates that in 

California, every year carbon monoxide accounts for between 30 and 40 

avoidable deaths, possibly thousands of avoidable illnesses, and between 175 

and 700 avoidable emergency room and hospital visits. Fifteen states and a 

number of large cities have already passed laws mandating the use of carbon 

monoxide alarms. This measure passed the Legislature but was vetoed by the 

Governor. The Governor’s veto message is below:

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 1386 without my signature.

This bill would require that carbon monoxide devices be installed in

residences beginning in 2010, thus placing a building standard in

statute.  This bill would also require that the Department of Housing

and Community Development develop additional building standards

concerning specific installation requirements for these devices.

While I am certainly concerned with the health and safety of

Californians, this bill is an undesirable approach.  Building

standards should not be statutory.  The Building Standards Commission

(BSC) was created to ensure an open public adoption process allowing

experts to develop standards and periodic updates to the building

codes.  Placing building standards in statute rather than regulation

circumvents the existing state regulatory adoption process and

excludes the input of safety and construction experts.

Smoke detectors in homes were approved by the BSC after a process of

review of the safety, need, and reliability of the product. This

process should be utilized for carbon monoxide devices.

Additionally, product reliability is an issue that has also affected

attempts to require carbon monoxide devices through national building

codes.  The International Code Council, which writes a national

model building code, recently rejected two proposals to require the

installation of carbon monoxide devices in new residential dwellings,

citing the lack of clear direction for placement of the devices and

the propensity for false alarm indications.  A recent test study

indicated that alarm technology is not adequately reliable, resulting

in false alarms or no alarm at all.

For these reasons, I am returning this bill without my signature.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

 SB 107 (Alquist) Wave Pools: This measure, supported by CCCSH, enacted the Wave Pool Safety Act. It requires wave pool operators to provide US Coast Guard-approved lifevests to be available for use by nonswimmers and any patron who requests one, and required for children under 48 inches in height. Requires certain children to wear the vest in order to gain access to the pool, requires an audible signal to be given before a breaking wave action occurs, and that lifeguards be present. Signed by the Governor.