H-0992.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1365

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Representatives Doumit, Pflug, 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

Read first time 01/24/2001.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

Requiring the department of health to publicize a list of recalled infant and child products.

    AN ACT Relating to recalled infant and child products; and adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The department shall monitor consumer product recalls announced by the United States consumer products safety commission and maintain a listing of recalled consumer products, excluding toys, that present a threat to the health and welfare of infants and children.

    (2) For the purposes of this section, "infant" means a person less than three years of age, and "child" means a person age three up to age eighteen.

    (3) The department shall produce a brochure based on the listing required in subsection (1) of this section.  The brochure shall:

    (a) Be dated;

    (b) Be updated with insert leaflets every six months;

    (c) Be reproduced in its entirety every two years;

    (d) List recalled infant and child products for the most recent fifteen years;

    (e) Cite the reason for the product recall; and

    (f) Contain a notice that the brochure is produced and updated periodically, covers a limited time period, and that the consumer may access the most current and comprehensive information via the internet through the United States consumer products safety commission web site or telephone hotline.  The brochure shall provide the web site address and the hotline telephone number.

    (4) The brochure described in subsection (3) of this section shall be distributed to at least:

    (a) Hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW, birthing centers licensed under chapter 18.46 RCW, and midwives licensed under chapter 18.50 RCW;

    (b) Parents at the time of childbirth;

    (c) Child care providers licensed under chapter 74.15 RCW;

    (d) Recipients of child profile information packets;

    (e) Consignment and resale stores selling infant and child products;

    (f) Charities serving infants and families;

    (g) Pediatrician, obstetrician, and family practice offices;

    (h) Women, infant, and children program offices; and

    (i) Department of social and health services' community services offices.

    (5) The department shall produce posters advertising the existence and availability of the brochure described in subsection (3) of this section.  The department shall distribute these posters, on request, to at least the locations cited in subsection (4) of this section.

    (6) The department shall coordinate with other agencies and entities to assure the dissemination of the material contained in the brochure described in subsection (3) of this section to the target population.  Dissemination of the material may be through any media.

    (7) The department shall coordinate with other agencies and entities to eliminate duplication of effort in disseminating infant and children consumer product safety information.

    (8) The department may seek funding for this infant product safety education effort from child-serving foundations or other private sources.

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