Senate approves bill to broaden charitable donations of children's equipment, adds safety checks for car seats

Senator Dhingra moved adoption of amendment 600 to substitute Senate Bill 6,087 and explained the change allows religious and other organizations to accept donated children's items, including car seats, while placing safety checks in place. "When you're going to accept a car seat, you have to inquire... Has this car seat ever been in an accident?" Dhingra said, and she described a required quick check for recalls or expiration and a clear donor notice that the organization cannot guarantee safety.

Senator Braun, the bill sponsor, described it as a constituent-driven measure to expand liability protection so organizations can accept and redistribute needed items such as car seats and strollers while minimizing risk. "It expands it to more organizations, specifically, faith based organizations," Braun said, noting the amendment places reasonable safety steps.

The Senate adopted amendment 600 and later advanced the engrossed substitute to final passage by unanimous voice and roll-call results that produced a constitutional majority (49 ayes, 0 nays); substitute SB 6,087 was declared passed.