What's happening
Harper's Law requires new clothing storage furniture sold in New York to include tip restraint devices and warning labels to prevent tip-overs.
Why it matters
Addresses a critical safety hazard for children and families. By requiring tip restraint devices and warning labels, the law directly targets the prevention of tip-over accidents, which have caused injuries and fatalities, particularly to young children.
Sets enforceable standards for manufacturers and retailers. Furniture sold in New York must meet safety standards outlined by the Consumer Product Safety Commission or ASTM International, ensuring uniformity and accountability in the marketplace.
Provides flexibility for furniture outside standard regulations. The law allows the sale of furniture not covered by federal or ASTM standards if it includes a compatible tip restraint device and warning label, or if retailers stock and clearly advertise separate tip restraint devices—offering consumer choice while maintaining safety awareness.
Establishes financial penalties for non-compliance. Retailers and sellers face civil penalties (up to $500 per violation) for failing to comply, creating a tangible incentive to adhere to the new safety requirements and protect consumers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Furniture Tip Restraints
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
16 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Signed chap.163
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 52–6
- 3rd reading cal.545
- Substituted for S1627B
- Referred to consumer protection
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Amended on third reading 4421b
- Amended on third reading 4421a
- Advanced to third reading cal.139
Show 3 earlier actions
- Reported
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
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.
Require Furniture Tip Restraints
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor James Skoufis
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4421--B Cal. No. 139
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI, ENGLEBRIGHT, SIMON, DICKENS, DE LA ROSA, JAFFEE, CRESPO, GUNTHER, McDONOUGH, ORTIZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BUCHWALD, GALEF -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes -- reported from committee, advanced to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading -- again amended on third reading, ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to enacting "Harper's Law" requiring tip restraint devices on certain furniture
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Harper's Law".
§ 2. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 399- ii to read as follows:
§ 399-ii. Furniture tip restraint device. 1. As used in this section:
(a) "furniture" shall mean a clothing storage unit that is freestanding and at least twenty-seven inches in height including but not limited to chests, dressers, armoires, and bureaus; and
(b) "tip restraint device" shall mean a mechanism that is designed to reduce the risk of furniture tipping over. Such mechanism may include straps, wall brackets, steel cables, or plug and screw sets.
2. No person, firm, partnership, association, limited liability company, corporation, or other entity shall sell or offer to sell new furniture to a consumer at retail unless the furniture conforms to standards endorsed or established by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission or, if no such standard exists, a standard established by ASTM International which requires furniture to contain a tip restraint device and carry a permanent warning label, including but not limited to, ASTM F2057.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05559-04-9
A. 4421--B 2
3. A person, firm, partnership, association, limited liability company, corporation, or other entity may sell or offer to sell new furniture that does not meet the requirements in subdivision two of this section if the furniture sold is outside the scope of the standards prescribed in subdivision two of this section and contains a compatible tip restraint device and carries a permanent warning label, or if the furniture is outside the scope of the standards prescribed in subdivision two of this section and the retailer: (a) maintains in stock and prominently displays within the store tip restraint devices available for sale that are compatible with such furniture; and (b) posts a notice, in a conspicuous location which may be easily seen or reached by customers, that, in legible format, states: "Certain furniture may become unstable and tip over, leading to possible injury or death. Tip restraint devices may prevent tipping of furniture when properly installed."
4. Any person, firm, partnership, association, limited liability company, corporation, or other entity that sells or offers to sell new furniture to a consumer at retail in violation of the provisions of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars for each violation.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.