SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5688

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Health & Long‑Term Care, February 27, 2001

Ways & Means, March 8, 2001

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:  Senators Kohl‑Welles, Snyder, Long, Winsley, Prentice, Thibaudeau, Hargrove, B. Sheldon, McAuliffe and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long‑Term Care:  2/12/01, 2/27/01 [DPS‑WM].

Ways & Means:  , 3/8/01 [DPS (HEA)]

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5688 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Thibaudeau, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Costa, Deccio, Fraser, Parlette and Winsley.

Staff:  Chelsea Buchanan (786‑7446)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5688 as recommended by Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Brown, Chair; Constantine, Vice Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Fraser, Hewitt, Honeyford, Kline, Kohl‑Welles, Long, Parlette, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rossi, Sheahan, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Zarelli.

Staff:  Tim Yowell (786-7435)

Background:  In 1996, the Legislature passed the Infant Crib Safety Act (SB 6229) which required cribs sold, leased, or resold in Washington to comply with federal regulations and voluntary safety standards, and stated intent for the Department of Health to provide information to the public.

At this time there is no state public outreach program related to product recalls or to the existence of infant product safety hazards.  The United States Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) maintains an Internet website that lists all recalled products and provides product safety information.  Included on the website is a category for infant and child products.  The Washington State Library maintains a website for consumers providing search capability of consumer protection sites.  The site also highlights specific product recalls.

The Department of Health (DOH) has a designated contact for the Consumer Product Safety Commission.  DOH and the local health jurisdictions receive press releases from the CPSC related to recalls and recommended product modifications.

Concern exists that consumers may not be aware of unsafe or recalled products and how to obtain information about them.  Of particular concern are infant and child products such as cribs which persons may assume to be safe, and are often reused or resold.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Health may develop and maintain a product safety education campaign.  The campaign focuses on unsafe infant and child products (excluding toys) that have been recalled by the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission, or do not meet federal safety regulations and voluntary safety standards, or are illegal to place into the stream of commerce under the Infant Crib Safety Act, Chapter 70.111 RCW.

The target population for the campaign includes parents, foster parents, and other caregivers, child care workers, resale stores, and charities and government entities serving children and families.

DOH coordinates any campaign with other child-serving entities such as pediatricians and obstetricians and relevant manufacturers, and coordinates with other agencies to avoid duplication of effort.  DOH may receive funding from private and government sources to carry out the program.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill was not considered.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Rerequested on February 28, 2001.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For (Health & Long-Term Care):  This bill could save lives.  People think their cribs and child products are safe, but they sometimes are not; more information needs to be provided, especially about old and resold items.  Infant and child products are expensive and it is customary to purchase, borrow, and lend used equipment.  Even persons teaching infant and child health and safety classes may not know about unsafe products and how to obtain information about them.  Since the death of an infant in an older, recalled portable crib this January, 20 of these same type of crib have been found in the surrounding community of 3,500.   Follow‑up education to the Infant Crib Safety Act is needed.  The focus of education should be on products that do not meet federal safety regulations and voluntary safety standards, not just on recalled products.

Testimony Against (Health & Long-Term Care):  None.

Testified (Health & Long-Term Care):  Senator Jeanne Kohl‑Welles, sponsor (pro); Senator Sid Snyder, co‑sponsor (pro); Cynthia Faubion, grandmother (pro); Raedyn Grasseth, mother (pro); Jack Walsh, The Danny Foundation (pro); Victor Colman, Department of Health (supports concept).

Testimony For (Ways & Means):  Families and friends often share child and infant care products, such as cribs, without realizing they have been recalled.

Testimony Against (Ways & Means):  None.

Testified (Ways & Means):  Senator Jeanne Kohl‑Welles, sponsor (pro).