What's happening
This bill requires warning labels on seasonal and decorative lighting products with lead in electrical cord casings, imposing penalties for violations.
Why it matters
Raises awareness about lead exposure risks. By requiring clear labeling on products that contain lead in their electrical cord casings, the bill helps inform consumers—especially parents and caregivers—about potential health hazards, which is particularly important since lead exposure can harm children and pregnant women.
Promotes safer consumer choices. The warning labels may encourage consumers to choose lead-free alternatives, pressuring manufacturers to use safer materials and potentially reducing overall lead exposure in homes and public spaces.
Creates accountability for manufacturers and sellers. The imposition of civil penalties (up to $1,000 per violation) incentivizes compliance and ensures that businesses take the labeling requirement seriously, helping to prevent negligent or deceptive practices.
Allows flexibility for exceptional cases. The bill gives the health commissioner authority to waive the labeling requirement if it is determined that a specific product poses no significant public health threat, preventing unnecessary regulation where risk is minimal.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Label Holiday Lights With Lead
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to health
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Amended on third reading 5147a
- Ordered to third reading cal.195
- Returned to assembly
- Died in senate
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Advanced to third reading cal.414
- Reported
Show 2 earlier actions
- 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.
Warn About Lead in Lights
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor David Carlucci
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 3493--A A. 5147--A Cal. No. 195
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
February 7, 2019
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health -- recommitted to the Committee on Health in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. GALEF, THIELE, MOSLEY, GOTTFRIED, DE LA ROSA, JEAN-PIERRE, L. ROSENTHAL, GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection -- ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
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 wreaths, 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00250-02-0
S. 3493--A 2 A. 5147--A
contains an electrical cord casing in which lead is used, 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.
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 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.