Introduction to Child Passenger Safety Programs Kate Bernacki, M.P.H. Coordinator, Vehicle Occupant Safety Program Safe and Active Communities Branch California Department of Public Health August 2014

VOSP strives to prevent injuries and deaths to children 0-16 years old in California by increasing the use, and correcting misuse, of child safety seats, booster seats, and seat belts. Staff Kate Bernacki, M.P.H., Coordinator Claudia Angel, Administration California Department of Public Health Safe and Active Communities Branch Vehicle Occupant Safety Program (VOSP) California Department of Public Health Safe and Active Communities Branch Vehicle Occupant Safety Program (VOSP)

California Has An Unique Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Law Vehicle Codes (VC) Primary Enforcement – child restraint system from 0 to 8 years in the rear seat (exemption for child restraint system of 4’9”, and rear seat position if all the seating positions are filled, both which are listed under exemptions in VC 27363) – child restraint system or seat belt from 8 years to 16 years to be properly restrained (with definition of proper restraint listed under VC 27315) – prohibits leaving unattended child under age seven in a vehicle where a significant risk to the child’s health and safety is present or when keys are left in the ignition or the car is running 3

California Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Laws CPS Vehicle Code (VC) CPS VC series VC (0-7 years) VC (8-16 years) CPS VC – Penalties and Fines (a) (1) For a conviction under Section or , a first offense is punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100), except that the court may reduce or waive the fine if the defendant establishes to the satisfaction of the court that he or she is economically disadvantaged, and the court, instead, refers the defendant to a community education program that includes, but is not limited to, education on the proper installation and use of a child passenger restraint system for children of all ages, and provides certification to the court of completion of that program. Upon completion of the program, the defendant shall provide proof of participation in the program. If an education program on the proper installation and use of a child passenger restraint system is not available within 50 miles of the residence of the defendant, the requirement to participate in that program shall be waived. If the fine is paid, waived, or reduced, the court shall report the conviction to the department pursuant to Section (2) The court may require a defendant described under paragraph (1) to attend an education program that includes demonstration of proper installation and use of a child passenger restraint system and provides certification to the court that the defendant has presented for inspection a child passenger restraint system that meets applicable federal safety standards. (b) (1) A second or subsequent conviction under Section or is punishable by a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250), no part of which may be waived by the court, except that the court may reduce or waive the fine if the defendant establishes to the satisfaction of the court that he or she is economically disadvantaged, and the court, instead refers the defendant to a community education program that includes, but is not limited to, education on the proper installation and use of child passenger restraint systems for children of all ages, and provides certification to the court of completion of that program. Upon completion of the program, the defendant shall provide proof of participation in the program. If an education program on the proper installation and use of a child passenger restraint system is not available within 50 miles of the residence of the defendant, the requirement to participate in that program shall be waived. If the fine is paid, waived, or reduced, the court shall report the conviction to the department pursuant to Section

California Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Laws CPS VC – Penalties and Fines (continued) (2) The court may require a defendant described under paragraph (1) to attend an education program that includes demonstration of proper installation and use of a child passenger restraint system and provides certification to the court that the defendant has presented for inspection a child passenger restraint system that meets applicable federal safety standards. (c) Notwithstanding any other law, the fines collected under this section shall be allocated as follows: (1) (A) Sixty percent to health departments of local jurisdictions where the violation occurred, to be used for a community education and assistance program that includes, but is not limited to, demonstration of the proper installation and use of child passenger restraint systems for children of all ages and assistance to economically disadvantaged families in obtaining a restraint system through a low-cost purchase or loan. The county or city health department shall designate a coordinator to facilitate the creation of a special account and to develop a relationship with the court system to facilitate the transfer of funds to the program. The county or city may contract for the implementation of the program. Prior to obtaining possession of a child passenger restraint system pursuant to this subdivision, a person shall attend an education program that includes demonstration of proper installation and use of a child passenger restraint system. (B) As the proceeds from fines become available, county or city health departments shall prepare and maintain a listing of all child passenger restraint lowcost purchase or loaner programs in their counties, including a semiannual verification that all programs listed are in existence. Each county or city shall forward the listing to the Office of Traffic Safety in the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency and the courts, birthing centers, community child health and disability prevention programs, county clinics, prenatal clinics, women, infants, and children programs, and county hospitals in that county, who shall make the listing available to the public. The Office of Traffic Safety shall maintain a listing of all of the programs in the state. (2) Twenty-five percent to the county or city for the administration of the community education program. (3) Fifteen percent to the city, to be deposited in its general fund except that, if the violation occurred in an unincorporated area, this amount shall be allocated to the county for purposes of paragraph (1). 5

Low Cost Car Seat Program for economically disadvantaged community  Free or low-cost seats  Car Seats R Kid’s Stuff! ifornia-VOSP.aspx ifornia-VOSP.aspx CPS Community Education Classes  1-2 hours  Video/hand-held device  On location at Inspection Stations  Include Violator Education Program Component  CPS Technician Trainings  Certification trainings  Re-certification: Renewal, Update  CPS Coordinator manages local activities, that may include: Review VOSP CPS Implementation Guide CPS Check Up Events/Fitting Station  Safe Kids Coalition, Hospital, Insurance Cos. Community Outreach and Education  Media  Partnerships, Coalitions  Hospital/birth center CPS policy and procedures CPS Violator Education Program  Statewide Guidelines  Include in Community Education class  Meet with Judge/Court

VOSP Statewide CPS Support CPS Laws –Vehicle Codes, Hospital and Insurance Codes, Hospital Policies CPS Program Components –County CPS Program Development, Educational Materials, Site Visits, Roll Call video, Conviction Data (program evaluation) CPS Technician Training System –Instructor and Technician re/certification, Instructor stipends, CEU’s, Additional trainings (CPS special needs, Instructor development) CA Violator Program Development –Class Guidelines, Court Outreach CPS Support/Information/Research –VOSP Webinar (quarterly), Who’s Got Car Seats?, VOSP Network s, Funding Opportunities 7

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CPS Technician Process This is the website with the CPS Technician certification information. Go to the top right corner where it says “find a course” and bring up California (you don’t need to fill in all the boxes) and you will see the list of posted courses. –Once a person is a nationally trained CPS Certified Technician, the certification is good for two years. To recertify a technician is required (within the two years) to participate in 4 hours of a community education event, complete 6 CEU’s (a variety of opportunities are available either in person or on line), and have all their seats checked off/evaluated by a CPS Instructor. They will learn about their recertification requirements when they take the CPS Technician course. The recertification is very manageable time wise, but as with any professional certification, it’s good to plan in advance and not leave the requirements to the last minute. –CPS Board (and for other Technician resources) with the Community Outreach Toolkit –NHTSA CPS restraint recall list or SafetyBeltSafe for recall list (with paid membership, but they have other information on their website for free) –VOSP supports CPS Technicians to become CPS Instructors, –VOSP financially supports CPS Instructors when they offer Technician related courses statewide. 9

CPS Technician Training System Technician/Instructor Certification Safe Kids Certification CPS Technician Certification –Profile online with Safe Kids CPS Technician Recertification –CEU’s (Update class or online) –Community Education –Seat Checks CPS Instructor –Candidate –Certification CPS Special Needs –Instructor Certification VOSP Training Support VOSP support for CPS Trainings (Technician, Update, Renewal, Special Needs, Instructor Development). VOSP supports 1-3 instructors, after host organization pays for 1st instructor (e.g. for a 10 person class VOSP will support 1 instructor). A 1-5 instructor to student ratio. VOSP provides a stipend of: $700 for a Lead Instructor, $600 for a Co-Instructor. CPS Technician training course, 3-4 days. POST credits for law enforcement for any CPS technician training is available through VOSP/CDPH. VOSP Instructor Stipend: Short Form Contract “Short Form Contracts” – includes a State form “STD 204” and SK Certification Instructor verification. Needs to be completed 8 weeks before submitting a VOSP CPS Course Request Form. A total of 3 MONTHS before class, be in touch with VOSP to start contract process. Short Form Contracts to be renewed every state fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). Up to $4, each state fiscal year. 10

Number of Instructors Number of Technicians North17233 Bay Area42810 Valley13224 South50640 Total1221,907 Number of CPS Instructors and Technicians by California Region October

CA CPS Conviction Data Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Occupant Protection Related Vehicle Codes, on the VOSP website. For conviction tables for all CA counties, go to:

CPS Conviction Data Contra Costa County

Content is similar to CPS community education class Covers VC 27360, , 15620, 27315, CPS Technician supervises or teaches class Ratio of instructor to violators 1 to 15 CPS Technician checks car seat to see if it has been recalled and is appropriate for the child Low-cost car seat available if a new seat is needed Certification of Completion for the courts 2 hours, plus checking seats Minimal cost for class Purpose of Recommended Guidelines Promote uniform Violator Education Programs across the state Encourage cross- county reciprocity Provide a referral list to the courts Resources VOSP SBS, “Family Safety in the Car” 14

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Occupant Safety Program (VOSP) California Department of Public Health Kate Bernacki, Coordinator (916) Claudia Angel, Administration (916) On the web at