Requires hospitals to prepare and distribute a leaflet on how parents can subscribe to the US consumer product safety commission's e-mail subscription lists

BILL NUMBER:S7441C

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring hospi- tals and birth centers to prepare and distribute an informational leaf- let containing information detailing how parents or guardians of infants and children can subscribe to the United States consumer product safety commission's e-mail subscription lists to receive consumer product recall and safety news

Purpose

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring hospi- tals and birth centers to prepare and distribute an informational leaf- let containing information detailing how parents or guardians of infants and children can subscribe to the United States consumer product safety commission's e-mail subscription lists to receive consumer product recall and safety news.

Summary of provisions

This bill would require hospital and birth centers to distribute an informational leaflet to each new maternity patient at the time of pre- booking or admission. The leaflet would contain information on how parents or guardians can subscribe to the CPSC's e-mail subscription lists to receive product recall and safety news and would be designed by the Department of Health, in conjunction with the Consumer Protection Board. In addition to being printed in English, it will be required that the leaflet is also printed in the top six other widely spoken languages in New York State as reported by the United States Bureau of Census.

Justification

In 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Commission released a report stat- ing that 19 toy-related deaths and 235,300 toy-related injuries occurred in 2008. By giving parents information on how to sign up for e-mail alerts, and allowing them to know that such e-mail alerts exist, these injuries and deaths could easily be prevented.

If a parent happens to skip over a news article or report regarding a toy recall, the lives of their children could be endangered. Although there is no perfect method or dependable source for notifying parents about dangerous products that may be in their households, this bill would help to ensure the safety of young children in New York State.

In 2009, this Legislature passed a bill that also requires the same facilities to distribute information on basic breast feeding related rights; and which requires posting of the list of rights on the health department's website. This bill has the same intent, but also, literally saves lives and protects our children from serious injury.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of May next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regu- lation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed by the commis- sioner of health on or before such effective date.