Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle & Assemblyman Schaer

VAINIERI HUTTLE/SCHAER BILL BANNING SALE OF UNSAFE CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS CLEARS COMMITTEE
Measure Would Require DYFS to Inspect Child-Care Facilities for Faulty Products

(TRENTON) -- An Assembly panel today released a measure Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Assemblyman Gary Schaer sponsored to crack down on the sale of unsafe or recalled children's products. The bill is sponsored in the Senate by Paul Sarlo and Loretta Weinberg.
The measure (A-2554/S-265) would prohibit the sale or lease of dangerous children's products, such as cribs, beds, car seats, high chairs, toys, and walkers that have been declared to be unsafe. The bill would require the Division of Consumer Affairs to create and maintain a public list of children's products found to pose a health or safety risk.

"Each year, hundreds of thousands of children's products are recalled," said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). "Keeping families and child-care providers informed of the potential dangers of products they use each day is the first step in keeping children safe."

Under the bill, child-care facilities would be prohibited from using or having any hazardous products on their premises. Additionally, DYFS would inspect each child-care facility for compliance prior to applying for a license and for license renewals.

"It is critical that we get a better handle on this situation and ensure that our children are not exposed to unsafe products that pose serious safety risks," said Schaer (D-Bergen/Essex/Passaic). "Creating a public statewide list and inspecting child-care facilities are proactive ways to keep consumers and child-care facilities informed of dangerous child products."

The Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee released the measure 5-0. It now goes to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

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CONTACT:
Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle
(201) 541-1118
Assemblyman Gary Schaer
(973) 249-3665