GOV. ABBOTT VETOES CHILD CAR SEAT LEGISLATION

  

Governor Greg Abbott has vetoed a bill that would have required children under age 2 to be secured in rear-facing car seats while in a moving vehicle.

Abbot says House Bill 448, authored by state Democrat Chris Turner of Grand Prairie, "is an unnecessary invasion of parental rights."

Turner says the legislation would "help clarify Texas' confusing car seat law and put it in line with Texas Department of Public Safety, Department of Transportation and Department of State Health Services recommendations."

The measure would have provided exceptions for babies and toddlers who are taller than 40 inches, weigh more than 40 pounds or have a medical condition that prevents them from sitting in a rear-facing car seat.

Texas law already requires children younger than 8 years old or shorter than 57 inches to be secured in a car seat, but does not specifically mention car safety guidelines for children under 2 years old.

The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommend children stay in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible.

If the law had passed, Texas would have joined 14 other states that have passed similar car seat regulations.