Highlights from the Legislature on Thursday:
— Children age 8 and under would have to be restrained either in a car seat or a booster seat and police would be able to pull over any vehicles if they suspect the children aren’t properly restrained under a measure (Senate Bill 110) backed by the Senate Transportation Committee. Currently, children between age 4 and 6 are required to use a booster seat if they meet certain height and weight requirements but the bill would get rid of those and replace it with the age limit instead.
— Gov. Bill Ritter recommended that the state liquidate a scholarship trust fund, close a prison boot camp and go after delinquent taxpayers to help cover an expected additional $340 million shortfall in next year’s budget. He also proposed opening a portion of the state’s new high-security prison this summer using about $10 million saved because a drop in the prison population. The budget balancing plan also depends on the state receiving another $204.5 million in Medicaid from the federal government which Congress hasn’t approved yet.
