Vainieri Huttle/Schaer/Johnson Bill Curbing Sale of Unsafe Children's Products Becomes Law

Measure Would Require DYFS to Inspect Child Care Facilities for Faulty Products

(TRENTON) - Governor Corzine has signed into law legislation Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Assemblymen Gary Schaer and Gordon Johnson sponsored to crack down on the sale of unsafe or recalled children's products.

The measure (S-265/A-2554) was sponsored in the Senate by Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) and Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck).

The law requires child-care centers to remove unsafe or recalled toys and products from their facilities. The law directs the state Division of Youth and Family Services to inspect each child care facility for compliance and to certify that the facilities are free of dangerous products prior to licensing.

The law also more tightly restricts the manufacturing or sale of dangerous children's products, such as cribs, beds, car seats, high chairs, toys, and walkers.

Under the law, the state Division of Consumer Affairs is required to create and maintain a public list of children's products found to pose a health or safety risk. The list would be made available to the public on the Web site of the Department of Children and Families or through direct electronic access to the list.

"Each year, hundreds of thousands of children's products are recalled," said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). "Keeping families and child-care providers informed of the potential dangers of products they use each day is the first step in keeping children safe."

"It is critical that we get a better handle on this situation and ensure that our children are not exposed to unsafe products that pose serious safety risks," said Schaer (D-Bergen/Essex/Passaic). "Creating a public statewide list and inspecting child-care facilities are proactive ways to keep consumers and child-care facilities informed of dangerous child products."

"Child safety must be practiced 24/7, especially by facilities that make it their business to care for children," said Johnson (D-Bergen).

Governor Corzine signed the bill into law late Monday, August 6.

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Contact:

Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle

(201) 541-1118

Assemblyman Schaer

(973) 249-3665

Assemblyman Johnson

(201) 541-1118

Senator Sarlo

(201) 804-8118

Senator Weinberg

(201) 928-0100