Committee advances bill to adopt 5‑step seat‑belt fit test and extend back‑seat guidance to age 13

Assemblymember Wilson presented AB 4 35 to the Assembly Transportation Committee, saying the bill would implement the internationally recognized "5‑step test" into California child passenger safety law and align state statute with current safety guidance. "These practices recognized internationally and nationally…have proved to minimize injuries and fatalities," Wilson said, calling the change "part of a safety package."

The bill would: require children under age 10 to be properly secured in the back seat in an appropriate child passenger restraint; require that children ages 10 through 13 continue to sit in the rear seat in a child passenger restraint seat unless they meet the 5‑step test; and require children to meet the 5‑step test before being allowed to sit in the front seat. The author and witnesses said the change is intended to make law match current training and safety recommendations and to reduce injuries among children in crashes.

Support and technical detail Jennifer Rubin, representing Safe Kids Greater Sacramento, said many car‑seat educators already teach the 5‑step test and that current California law lags behind national…