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History
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to brake friction material
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S8195
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to limiting the use of certain substances in brake friction material
Purpose
To address the serious health risk posed to New York State residents by the amount of copper and other toxic substances in motor vehicle brake pads.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Sets forth the legislative findings.
Section 2: Adds a new section 382-d to article 9 of the vehicle and traffic law to reduce the amount of copper and other toxic substances in motor vehicle brake pads sold in New York State. The legislation provides a timeline for implementation and enforcement of this title by the Department of Motor Vehicles. It provides that the Department shall review the availability of alternative brake friction material, and form of an advisory committee if alternative material exists. It requires a report on the availability of alternative brake friction material for each type of motor vehicle, and that such report be published and presented to the appropriate legislative committees. The Department is authorized to consider applications for exemptions, and a framework for determining whether such exemptions are appropriate is included. The legislation sets forth reporting and compliance requirements for manufacturers of brake friction material offered for sale in New York State. The bill calls for the department to prepare and distribute information about the prohibitions to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Finally, the legislation provides for civil penalties for violation.
Section 3: Sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Brake friction material is an essential component of motor vehicle brakes, and critically important to transportation safety and public safety in general. However, debris from brake friction material contain- ing copper and its compounds, along with other toxic substances, is released into the environment during normal motor vehicle operation. As a result, thousands of pounds of copper and other toxic substances released from brake usage enter New York State's streams, rivers, and marine environment every year. Excess amounts of copper are toxic to aquatic organisms that form the base of the food chain.
The other substances covered by the act are asbestiform fibers, cadmium and its compounds, chromium (VI) salts, lead and its compounds, and mercury and its compounds, all of which have been shown to have a detri- mental impact on human health and the environment.
Washington State has passed a similar law, with the support of the Alli- ance of Automobile Manufactures. By limiting copper and other toxic substance content in brake pads, we can make strides toward improving New York State's water quality and the health of its citizens.
Legislative history
This is a new bill in the Assembly.
Fiscal impact on the state
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.