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TEA-21 - Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century Moving Americans into the 21st Century |
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TEA-21 Home | DOT Home | Fact Sheet Index |
OCCUPANT PROTECTION INCENTIVE GRANTS | |||||||
Year |
1997(ISTEA) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
Authorization |
0 |
0 |
$10M |
$10M |
$13M |
$15M |
$20M |
Program Purpose
A new program of incentive grants (under Section 405(a) of chapter 4 of Title 23) to encourage States to adopt and implement effective programs to reduce highway deaths and injuries resulting from individuals riding unrestrained or improperly restrained in motor vehicles. A State may use these grant funds only to implement and enforce occupant protection programs. [2003]
Distribution of Funds
Each State that qualifies for a grant receives up to 25 percent of its FY 1997 Section 402 apportionment.
The Secretary may transfer any amounts remaining available under Sections 405, 410, and 411 to the amounts made available under any other of these programs to ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that each State receives the maximum incentive funding for which it is eligible.
No State may receive a grant under this section in more than six years.
For purposes of this section, those jurisdictions defined as "States" in chapter 4 of Title 23 are eligible to receive Section 405 funds; this includes the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Eligible Recipients
A State is eligible for an incentive grant by demonstrating that it has implemented at least 4 of the following 6 criteria:
1. A law requiring safety belt use by all front seat passengers in passenger vehicles (and beginning in FY 2001, in any seat in the vehicle).
2. A safety belt law providing for primary enforcement.
3. Minimum fines or penalty points for seat belt and child seat use law violations.
4. A statewide special traffic enforcement program for occupant protection that emphasizes publicity.
5. A statewide child passenger protection education program that includes education programs about proper seating positions for children in air bag equipped motor vehicles and instruction on how to reduce the improper use of child restraint systems.
6. A child passenger protection law that requires minors to be secured properly in a child safety seat or other appropriate restraint system.
Program Administration
The Federal share of programs funded by this section shall not exceed 75 percent in the first and second years in which a State receives a grant, 50 percent in the third and fourth years in which a State receives a grant, and 25 percent in the fifth and sixth years in which a State receives a grant.
September 14, 1998