Number
081574
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. COGGS, DAVIS, WADE and MURPHY
Title
Substitute resolution supporting Wisconsin Senate Bill 141 requiring electronic seat check reminders on child care vehicles.
Analysis
This resolution expresses support for Wisconsin Senate Bill 141 to require the installation of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families approved child safety alarms on child care vehicles. A “child safety alarm”, sometimes known as a electronic seat check reminder system, is defined as a system that prompts child care vehicle operators to inspect the vehicle for children before exiting. “Child care vehicles” are defined as vehicles with seating capacity of 6 or more passengers, in addition to the driver, owned or leased by a child care provider or a contractor of a child care provider and used to transport children to from a child care provider.
Body
Whereas, Children being transported in child care vehicles are from time to time left behind in such vehicles either through neglect or oversight in the confusion and hubbub that often accompanies the transport of children; and
Whereas, Children left behind in child care vehicles are generally too small or helpless to exit such vehicles on their own and are therefore trapped in such vehicles, often for hours, when left behind; and
Whereas, Helpless children trapped in child care vehicles for hours in the cold of Milwaukee winters or the heat of Milwaukee summers can suffer extreme physical trauma which may result in serious and permanent injury or death; and
Whereas, Six children left behind and trapped in child care vehicles have died in Milwaukee since 1991; and
Whereas, A child safety alarm, also known as an electronic seat check reminder system, is commercially available which will sound an alarm and illuminate the interior of the child care vehicle when it is parked unless the vehicle operator disarms the alarm by activating a switch located at the rear of the vehicle’s passenger compartment; and
Whereas, The vehicle operator will be forced to pass by each seat in the child care vehicle to reach the seat check reminder alarm disarming switch at the rear of the passenger compartment and by so doing will be afforded the opportunity to inspect each seat to be sure all children have exited the vehicle before the vehicle is parked; and
Whereas, The seat check reminder provides an additional safeguard to prevent leaving children behind in child care vehicles by sounding a “panic” alarm if not disarmed when the vehicle is parked alerting other child care workers, neighbors or passersby to potential danger; and
Whereas, The estimated costs of $80 to $150 to purchase and install electronic seat check reminder systems is not onerous to child care centers considering the additional measure of safety such devices provide for the children transported; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Administration, Intergovernmental Relations Division is directed to lobby for passage of Wisconsin Senate Bill 141 to require installation of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families approved child safety alarms, also known as electronic seat check reminder systems, on child care vehicles used to transport children to and from a child care provider.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB 09092-2
ANC
04/07/09