The bill amends existing laws related to child passenger restraint and safety belt use in New Mexico. It removes the provision that states failure to secure a child in a passenger restraint device or safety belt shall not constitute fault or negligence, nor limit or apportion damages in any instance. This deletion is significant as it allows for the possibility of liability in cases where children are not properly restrained, thereby emphasizing the importance of compliance with safety regulations.

Additionally, the bill introduces new language that mandates the cooperation of the bureau with the department of public education and the department of health to provide educational programs aimed at promoting the use of restraint devices. It also requires the bureau to evaluate the effectiveness of the Safety Belt Use Act and report its findings in the annual evaluation report on highway safety. Furthermore, it clarifies that the provisions of the Safety Belt Use Act will be enforced independently of any other statutes, reinforcing the commitment to child passenger safety.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 66-7-369, 66-7-373