S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1892
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 14, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Transportation
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
   rear occupant alert systems in certain vehicles; and providing for the
   repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  375 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
 adding a new subdivision 58 to read as follows:
   58. REAR OCCUPANT ALERT SYSTEMS.  IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON,
 FIRM, ASSOCIATION OR CORPORATION TO SELL OR OFFER FOR SALE IN THIS STATE
 A NEW PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE WEIGHING LESS  THAN  TEN  THOUSAND  POUNDS
 GROSS  VEHICLE  WEIGHT WHICH IS TO BE REGISTERED IN THIS STATE AND WHICH
 WAS MANUFACTURED OR ASSEMBLED ONE YEAR OR MORE AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH
 THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC  SAFETY  ADMINISTRATION  PROMULGATES  FINAL
 REGULATIONS  ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FOR REAR OCCUPANT ALERT SYSTEMS, AND
 DESIGNATED AS A VEHICLE FOR SUCH MODEL YEAR OR AS  A  NEWER  MODEL  YEAR
 VEHICLE,  UNLESS  SUCH  VEHICLE  IS  EQUIPPED WITH A REAR OCCUPANT ALERT
 SYSTEM. FOR THE PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION,  "REAR  OCCUPANT  ALERT
 SYSTEM"  SHALL  MEAN A SYSTEM TO ALERT THE OPERATOR TO CHECK REAR-DESIG-
 NATED SEATING POSITIONS AFTER THE VEHICLE ENGINE OR MOTOR IS DEACTIVATED
 BY THE OPERATOR, AND THE TERM "PASSENGER MOTOR  VEHICLE"  SHALL  INCLUDE
 ONLY THOSE MOTOR VEHICLES CAPABLE OF BEING REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SUBDI-
 VISION  SIX  OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED ONE OF THIS CHAPTER WHICH HAVE REAR
 SEATS.
   § 2. Severability. If any clause,  sentence,  subdivision,  paragraph,
 section or part of this act be adjudged by any court of competent juris-
 diction  to  be  invalid, or if any federal agency determines in writing
 that this act would render New York state ineligible for the receipt  of
 federal  funds, such judgment or written determination shall not affect,
 impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05283-01-5
              

 A. 1892                             2
 
 operation to the clause, sentence, subdivision,  paragraph,  section  or
 part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment
 or written determination shall have been rendered.
   §  3.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
 this act shall be deemed repealed if any federal  agency  determines  in
 writing  that  this  act  would render New York state ineligible for the
 receipt of federal funds or any court of competent jurisdiction  finally
 determines  that  this act would render New York state out of compliance
 with federal law or regulation; provided that the commissioner of  motor
 vehicles or the commissioner of transportation shall notify the legisla-
 tive  bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of any federal agency
 determining in writing that this act would render New York state  ineli-
 gible  for the receipt of federal funds or any court of competent juris-
 diction finally determines that this act would render New York state out
 of compliance with federal law or regulation in order that  the  commis-
 sion  may  maintain  an  accurate  and timely effective data base of the
 official text of the laws of the state of New  York  in  furtherance  of
 effectuating  the  provisions  of  section 44 of the legislative law and
 section 70-b of the public  officers  law.  Effective  immediately,  the
 addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized
 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.