Relates to prohibiting the selling, offering for sale or distribution of any electrical or extension cords with fraudulent seals for the Underwriters' Laboratory

BILL NUMBER:S3961A

Title of bill

An act to amend the general business law, in relation to the selling, offering for sale or distribution of any electrical or extension cords with a fraudulent seal for the Underwriters' Laboratory

Purpose or general idea of bill

To amend the general business law to top retail merchants from selling electrical products sold with fraudulent claims of quality and safety inspection. A store engaging in the sale of fraudulently labeled electrical cords are subject to a civil penalty of up to one hundred dollars. Additionally, first time violators much complete an online training seminar, conducted by the Office of Fire Prevention and control (OFPC), on how to distinguish false UL labels for the first offense. For a second or subsequent violation of this section, the civil penalty shall be set at up to 500 dollars.

Summary of specific provisions

Merchants who sell electrical products with fraudulent UL will be subject to a civil Penalty of up to $100 and required to complete and online training session created by OFPC. A second or subsequent violation will result in a fine of up to $500.

Justification

A number of fires have been attributed to extension cords that bore fraudulent UL labels. The potential for loss of life to both consumers and firefighters due to this fraud is unacceptable. This law would not only increase civil penalties for the retail sale of these Potentially dangerous cords, but it would require all merchants who have engaged in these fraudulent transactions to learn how to learn how to differentiate between real UL cords and fakes.

Prior legislative history

S.4074-A (2011); S.2682-A (2009); S.8080 (2008)

Fiscal implications

No cost to the State.

Effective date

This act shall take effect one hundred twenty days after it shall have become law.