SENATE DOCKET, NO. 667        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1951

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Thomas M. McGee

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to provide for an air bag on-off switch to ensure safety to women, children and individuals with medical conditions.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 667        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1951

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1854 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act to provide for an air bag on-off switch to ensure safety to women, children and individuals with medical conditions.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 90 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new section:-

Section 62. Every licensed dealer and repair business in the Commonwealth shall provide consumers with a summary of the final rule from the Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 49 CFR Parts 571 and 595 [Docket No. NHTSA-97-3111-1] and the request form, when consumer is purchasing, leasing or renting vehicle or at time of first check-up on bought, leased, or rented vehicle.  Said licensed dealer and repair business shall obtain from the consumer certification in writing that such summary and request form was provided.

A summary shall include the provisions stating vehicle owners are able to receive an air bag ON-OFF switch, installed for one or both the air bags in their vehicles if they, or users of their vehicle, fall into one or more of the following specific risk groups: (i) individuals with medical conditions where the risks of a deploying air bag exceed the risk of impacting the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield in the absence of an air bag, including but not limited to, pregnant women; (ii) individuals who cannot position themselves to properly operate the vehicle with breastbone at least ten inches back from the center of the steering wheel air bag cover; (iii) individuals with the need to transport an infant in a rear-facing child restraint in the front seat because the vehicle has no rear seat, the rear seat is too small to accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, or because it is necessary to constantly monitor the child's medical condition; (iv) individuals with the need to transport children between one year old and twelve years old in the front seat because the vehicle has no rear seat, the consumer must carry more children than can be accommodated in the rear seat, or because it is necessary to constantly monitor a child's medical condition.