ATLANTA— State Representative Sandra Scott (D-Rex) announced today that she plans to re-introduce legislation for the 2016 legislative session that would require alarms on all daycare vans and buses. The legislation, which will be called the Jazmin Green Act, was originally introduced by Rep. Scott during the 2013-2014 legislative session and is aimed at reducing the number of children left in hot vehicles.
“On May 5th, two year-old Zaryaha was left in her daycare’s transport van for five and a half hours,” said Rep. Scott. “This is another tragic story, and that is why I am re-introducing this legislation. By requiring these alarms, we are taking a simple step towards added safety for our children. We will never forget sweet Jazmin Green, for whom the legislation is named, or Zaryaha, but we will also use these stories as examples of why this bill is essential.”
The Jazmin Green Act would require day-care and early care centers in Georgia to install a safety alarm in the rear of all vehicles that the day-care or early care centers use to transport children. The child safety alarms would require the driver to walk to the back of the vehicle to deactivate the alarm when the driver turns off the vehicle. By requiring the driver to walk-through the vehicle to turn off the alarm in the back of the vehicle, the alarm forces the driver to check each seat and confirm that every child exited the vehicle. The bill would also require that child safety alarms to be installed by a certified technician, and properly maintained by the day-care centers. The alarms are expected to cost from $99 to $300 dollars; however the center would be able to get discounts from their insurance company, which would pay for the alarm system over a years’ time.
“There is no way to know if this will be the cure-all solution,” said Rep. Scott. “However, it is an added layer of precaution for our precious children. I don’t know a single parent who would not pay for the alarm system themselves if they thought it meant more safety, not only for their child, but for all of Georgia’s children.”
Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. She was first elected into the House Representatives in 2010, and currently serves on the Human Relations & Aging, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, Science and Technology, and Special Rules committees.
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