Child Safety and Child Booster Seats Incentive Grants (20.613)

Program

20.613 Child Safety and Child Booster Seats Incentive Grants

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Transportation
Office: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Authorization

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) of 2005, Section 2011, Public Law 109-59, 23 U.S.C 402.

Program Number

20.613

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To encourage States to enact and enforce a child restraint law that requires children up to 65 pounds and under 8 years of age to be properly retrained in a child restraint, unless they are 4' 9' tall.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

No more than 50 percent of the grant a State receives in a fiscal year shall be used to fund programs for purchasing and distributing child safety seats and restraints to low income families. The remaining amounts can be used to carry out child safety seat and child restraint program, including the following: enforcement of child restraint laws; training child passenger safety professionals, police officers, fire and emergency medical personnel, educators and parents concerning child safety seats and child restraints; and educating the public concerning the proper use and installation of child safety seats and child restraints. No more than 50 percent of the grant a State receives in a fiscal year shall be used to fund programs for purchasing and distributing child safety seats and restraints to low income families.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

The grant program is available to the 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State Highway Safety Agencies.

Credentials/Documentation

States submit certifications that it meets eligibility requirements no later than July 1 of each fiscal year. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Certifications, signed by the Governor's Representative for Highway Safety, are due no later than July 1 of each fiscal year to the appropriate NHTSA Regional Administrator. To apply for grant funds in a fiscal year, a New or Changed Law State must submit the certification required by Federal Register, Vol. 71, No. 20, Tuesday, January 31, 2006, Appendix 1 and an Unchanged Law State must submit the certification required by Federal Register, Vol. 71, No. 20, Tuesday, January 31, 2006, Appendix 2, signed by the Governor's Representative for Highway Safety, to the appropriate NHTSA Regional Administrator.

Award Procedure

A State submits certification that it meets eligibility requirements; after being informed by NHTSA that it is eligible for a grant, the State submits to the agency a plan that describes the programs the State will implement using the funds. Federal share is reimbursed on claims submitted in vouchers covering costs incurred. All participants have converted to the Electronic Transfer of Funds method. Funds placed in obligation are available until expended. NHTSA notifies the Governor in a letter that the State has met the requirements for a Section 2011 grant. The letter also describes the amount of the grant award.

Deadlines

Jul 01, 2009 Certifications muse be received by the appropriate NHTSA Regional Administrator no later than July 1 of each fiscal year.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Applicants should receive a response from the agency between 30 to 90 days of receipt of certification whether their child passenger safety laws meet the Section 2011 criteria.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Certifications must be submitted each year no later than July 1 of that fiscal year.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory Formula: Title 23, Chapter 402.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Federal share is reimbursed on claims submitted in vouchers covering the eligible costs incurred. All participants have converted to the Electronic Transfer of Funds method. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. SF-272. The Annual Report required under the Section 402 State and community Highway Safety formula grant program must include a profess report on the prior year's program and accomplishments. SF-269. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of State and local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities (including universities) that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, with certain exceptions as Stated in OMB Circular No. A-133. For direct procurement contracts, audits will be conducted in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Records

Project sponsor shall retain records for 3 years, following submission of a final expenditure report and other project deliverables, all product contract documents, financial records, and supporting documents pending resolution of audit findings.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: The grant shall be used to fund programs for purchasing and distributing child safety seats and restraints to low-income families. The remaining amounts shall be used to carry out child safety seat and child restraint programs including the following: enforcement of child restraint laws, training child passenger safety professionals, police officers, fire and emergency medical personnel, educators and parents concerning child safety seats and child restraints and educating the public concerning the proper use and installation of child safety seats and child restraints. In FY 2008, 18 States and the District of Columbia received Section 2011 grants. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-8020-0-7-401.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $6,000,000; FY 09 est $7,000,000; FY 10 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The range is normally $101,000 - 540,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) of 2005, Section 2011, Public Law 109-59, as amended, 23 U.S.C. 402. Federal Register, Vol. 71, No. 20, Tuesday, January 31, 2006.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for the addresses of the Regional Offices of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Headquarters Office

Judy Hammond, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE,, Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Email: judy.hammond@dot.gov Phone: (202) 366-2121

Web Site Address

http://nhtsa.dot.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Section 2011 allows States to use up to 50 percent of their grant funds in a fiscal year for the purchase of child safety seats for low income families; enforcement of child restraint laws, training of professionals, law enforcement, fire and rescue personnel in child passenger safety; and for educating the public on the importance of properly restraining children in an age, weight and height appropriate restraint devise. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

A certification from the Governor's Representative that the State is enforcing a child restraint law that conforms to the criteria established in Section 2011.