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Sponsors
16 Co-sponsors
History
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to codes
- Print number 6875b
- Amend and recommit to consumer affairs and protection
- Print number 6875a
- Amend and recommit to consumer affairs and protection
- Reference changed to consumer affairs and protection
- Referred to economic development
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A6875B
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the retail sale and distribution of novelty lighters
Purpose or general idea of bill
To prohibit the retail sale and distribution of novelty lighters.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 prohibits the sale of novelty lighters and defines what classifies as a novelty lighter.
Section 2: Transportation and distribution of novelty lighters.
Section 3: Sets up a toll free telephone hotline number for receiving information about possible violations.
Section 4: Gives officers authorization to seize novelty lighters.
Section 5: Details civil penalties which violators will be subject to.
Section 6: States that this will not apply to manufacturers, imports, distributors, or wholesale seller who can demonstrate that the novelty lighters are not intended for sale within the state.
Section 7: Gives authority to state fire administrator in order to promulgate these regulations.
Section 8: Pertains to the attorney general and the courts of New York.
Justification
The Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled thousands of novelty lighters since 1996 due to their danger to public safety. Some of these novelty lighters have features that are attractive to children including musical sounds, toy-like designs and flashing lights. Fires set by juveniles are the fastest-growing fire threat in the United States. Annually more than 300 people are killed, 30% of whom are children. These fires cause almost $1 billion in property damage.
According to the publication Fire Chief, "Fatal fires caused by novelty lighters have been documented in several states, including September 2007 when two young boys in Arkansas died in a fire they accidentally set to their apartment with a motorcycle-shaped lighter. Since the fatal fire, at least 21 municipalities in Arkansas have passed ordinances banning the sale of novelty lighters. Municipal and county governments in California, Colorado, and Washington have also passed bans on novelty-lighter sales."
Several states have considered banning such novelty lighters. In March of 2008, the State of Maine's Governor signed into law similar legislation which would prohibit the sale novelty lighters. The Oregon State Legislature recently passed legislation banning novelty lighters and nineteen (19) other states have similar legislation. It is important that New York State do the same to protect our families from such preventable fires.
Prior legislative history
A10651/S8339
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately. Notwithstanding the effective date, no person shall be subject to a civil penalty for any violation that occurs before the ninetieth day after enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.