What's happening
This bill requires warning labels on seasonal and decorative lighting products with lead in PVC electrical cords and sets penalties for violations.
Why it matters
Raises consumer awareness of lead exposure risks. By mandating clear warning labels on certain lighting products, the bill helps consumers make informed choices and take precautions, especially when handling holiday or decorative lights that may expose them to lead.
Targets a specific but common product type. The legislation specifically covers seasonal and decorative lighting (like string lights, pre-lit trees, and light-up wreaths), which are widely used in homes and businesses and often handled by children and families.
Creates financial consequences for non-compliance. With civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation, manufacturers and retailers have a strong incentive to correctly label products, potentially reducing the risk of lead-related health issues over time.
Allows for regulatory flexibility. The commissioner has the authority to waive labeling requirements if it is found that a particular product poses no significant threat to public health, potentially preventing unnecessary regulation of safer products.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Warn About Lead in Lights
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
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.
Warn About Lead in Lights
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4465
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 15, 2017
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the manufacture and sale of seasonal and decorative lighting products containing lead
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 1376-b to read as follows:
§ 1376-b. Manufacture and sale of seasonal and decorative lighting products containing lead. 1. When used in this title, "seasonal and decorative lighting product" shall mean portable, plug-connected, temporary-use lighting products and accessories that have a nominal 120-volt input voltage rating.
(a) Lighting products within the scope of this rule are factory-assembled with push-in, midget- or miniature- screw base lamp holders connected in series or parallel, directly across the 120-volt input.
(b) Such lighting products include, but are not limited to lighted decorative outfits such as wired holiday string lights, pre-lit artificial Christmas trees, plants, flowers or wreathes, stockings, stars, candles and light sculptures.
2. On each seasonal and decorative lighting product manufactured, sold or delivered by a manufacturer or distributed within this state that contains an electrical cord casing made with polyvinyl chloride in which lead is used as a fire-retardant and stabilizer, there shall be printed thereon or attached thereto a warning label.
3. Such warning label shall contain the following statement: "WARNING: HANDLING THE COATED ELECTRICAL WIRE OF THIS PRODUCT MAY EXPOSE YOU TO LEAD. WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER USE."
4. Any person, firm, corporation or association who violates this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for each such violation.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06761-02-7
S. 4465 2
5. The commissioner may waive the provisions of this section in whole or in part upon finding by the commissioner in a particular instance that there is no significant threat to public health.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the manufacture and sale of seasonal and decorative lighting products containing lead
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to minimize, and eventually stop altogether, the negative impact of lead in seasonal and decorative lighting products lead.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. The Public Health Law is amended by adding a new section 1376-h. which reads as follows: § 1376-b. Manufacture and sale of seasonal and decorative lighting products containing lead. 1. Defines "seasonal and decorative lighting product".
Read the full memo (601 words)
2. Each SADLP manufactured, sold or distributed in New York State that has an electrical cord casing made with polyvinyl chloride, which lead is used as a fire-retardant, must have a warning label.
3. At minimal, the warning label must read, "WARNING: HANDLING THE COATED ELECTRICAL WIRE OF THIS PRODUCT MAY EXPOSE YOU TO LEAD. WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER USE."
4. Any person, firm, corporation or association who violates this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 dollars for each such violation.
5. The Commissioner may waive the provisions of this section in whole or in part upon finding by the commissioner in a particular instance that there is no significant threat to public health.
Section 2. Establishes the effective date.
Difference between original and amended version (if applicable)
Not applicable at this time.
Justification
Decorative and seasonal holiday lights have been shown to contain potentially unsafe levels of lead. Several independent studies, which followed the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) standard wipe test to see how much lead would come off on someone's hands, revealed that some brands contained more than 30 times the levels regulators permit in children's products. One 2008 study published in the Journal of Environmental Health, found that nearly all the light sets tested had levels that surpassed the Environmental Protection Agency's limit for windowsills and floors.
Exposure to lead has been repeatedly proven to be attributed to serious health problems - including attacks on the brain and central nervous system, heart and kidney disease, reduced fertility and depression with severe consequences for children. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no safe blood level concentration.
While federal law bans the sale and manufacture of lead in house paint and gasoline and New York enacts stringent limits only on paint on children's toys and furniture and some glazed tableware, the sale of most other consumer products containing lead in the state are not as strictly regulated.
Holiday/decorative lights - the vast majority of them manufactured overseas - have lead applied to the polyvinylchloride (PVC) wire covering to keep the plastic from cracking and acts as a flame retardant. This bill would require any products containing lead, sold in the State of New York, to have an explicit warning label advising that the product may expose the consumer to the substance with clear instructions to wash hands.
As lead is not readily absorbed through skin, the main worry regarding exposure stems from ingesting the traces that are left on the hands of a person after they have finished handling the lights. This legislation would afford much needed protection to the consumer from unnecessary high levels of lead through a simple warning label.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
There are no fiscal implications associated with the passage of this legislation.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.