Whereas, Public Law 2001, chapter 585, "An Act to Ensure the Safety of Maine Children While Riding in a Vehicle," imposes a requirement on seating of children in vehicles, including requiring booster seats and approved child safety seats; and

Whereas, the purchase of these seats imposes an onerous financial burden on some Maine families; and

Whereas, this legislation eliminates some of that burden; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2081, sub-§3-B is enacted to read:

3-B.__Low-income assistance.__The Department of Public Safety shall provide a federally approved child restraint system to a qualified low-income person.__The Department of Public Safety shall adopt rules to establish the criteria by which a person may qualify to receive a federally approved child restraint system.__This criteria must include household annual income and the receipt of other state financial assistance.

Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §2081, sub-§4, ¶D, as amended by PL 1995, c. 597, §3, is further amended to read:

D. A violation of subsection 3 or 3-A is a traffic infraction. The fine for a violation of subsection 3 or 3-A may not be less than $25 nor more than $50. The fine for a violation of subsection 3 may not be imposed until January 1, 2004.

Sec. 3. Retroactivity. This Act applies retroactively to January 1, 2003.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.