HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1365
As Reported by House Committee On:
Children & Family Services
Appropriations
Title: An act relating to recalled infant and child products.
Brief Description: Requiring the department of health to publicize a list of recalled infant and child products.
Sponsors: Representatives Doumit (co-prime sponsor), Pflug (co-prime sponsor), Tokuda, Boldt, Pennington, Rockefeller, Hatfield, Eickmeyer, Campbell, Edwards, Cairnes, Murray, Cody, Jackley, Mastin, Kirby, Buck, Kessler, Chopp, McIntire, Grant, Morris, Lisk, Ruderman, Van Luven, Kenney, Conway, Kagi and Schual‑Berke.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Children & Family Services: 2/1/01, 2/22/01 [DPS];
Appropriations: 2/28/01, 3/7/01 [DPS(CFS)].
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Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
$The bill requires the Department of Health to promote awareness of products designed to be used by infants and children, excluding toys, that have been determined to be unsafe by the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission. Unsafe products include recalls and products requiring modification.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Boldt, Republican Co‑Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co‑Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Morell, Republican Vice Chair; Ballasiotes, Campbell, Darneille, Dickerson, Miloscia and Pflug.
Staff: Deborah Frazier (786‑7152).
Background:
The United States Consumer Products Safety Commission maintains an Internet website listing all recalled products. Included on the website is a category for infant and child products.
The Department of Health has one staff person who is designated by the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission as their state contact. The agency and the local health jurisdictions receive press releases from the commission related to recalls and recommended product modifications.
The Washington State Library maintains a website for consumers that provides search capability of over 70 recommended consumer protection sites. The site also highlights specific product recalls. The website is sponsored by the Office of the Attorney General, Department of Ecology, Department of Social and Health Services, Liquor Control Board, North Central Educational Service District, Office of the Governor and the Utilities and Transportation Commission.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
The bill instructs the DOH to promote awareness of products designed to be used by infants and children, excluding toys, that have been determined to be unsafe by the United States consumer products safety commission. Unsafe products include recalls and products requiring modification.
The DOH is authorized to use various methods to reach the target population. The department may operate the campaign or to contract with a vendor and may receive non-state funding for the campaign.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The department is no longer required to produce a brochure. The DOH is no longer required to perform the education and outreach activities and is no longer authorized to solicit non-state funding.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: My child would be alive today if I'd had access to this information. We want to prevent anyone else going through this. We want to get the information out so that people know how to find our about these products.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Representative Doumit, co-prime sponsor; Representative Pflug, co-prime sponsor; Andrea Brandt-Amor; Cynthia Faubion; and Raedyn Grasseth.
(Comments) Victor Colman, State Department of Health.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: The substitute bill by Committee on Children and Family Services be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 31 members: Representatives Sehlin, Republican Co‑Chair; H. Sommers, Democratic Co‑Chair; Barlean, Republican Vice Chair; Doumit, Democratic Vice Chair; Lisk, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander, Boldt, Buck, Clements, Cody, Cox, Dunshee, Fromhold, Gombosky, Grant, Kagi, Keiser, Kenney, Kessler, Lambert, Linville, Mastin, McIntire, Mulliken, Pearson, Pflug, Ruderman, D. Schmidt, Schual‑Berke, Talcott and Tokuda.
Staff: Amy Hanson (786‑7118).
Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Children & Family Services:
No new changes were recommended.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: There are thousands of products that have been recalled by the manufacturer. Parents are not always aware of such recalls. The bill does not create a new program, but promotes greater awareness so that parents know how to access information on recalled products.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Representative Pflug, co-prime sponsor; and Representative Doumit, co-prime sponsor.