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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | July 31, 2013 02:19 PM |
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| From: | Representative Steven C. Mentzer |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Amending the Stuffed Toy Safety Law |
| In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation amending Pennsylvania’s “Stuffed Toy Safety Law,” enacted in 1961. This legislation would modernize the law, provide for appropriate enforcement authority, and most importantly, ensure the safety of children. The current stuffed toy safety law establishes a series of unnecessary rules for manufacturing and distributing stuffed toys throughout the commonwealth. For example, Pennsylvania is one of a few states that require manufacturers of stuffed toys to be registered with a state agency. All stuff toys manufactured or distributed within the commonwealth must have a tag attached identifying the registration number of the manufacturer and listing all the material used in the stuffing. In addition, the manufacturer must send the department a “sample” for inspection. These requirements are largely unnecessary in light of similar, and in many cases more stringent, requirements and protections imposed by the federal government. As such, the law imposes a regulatory barrier on manufacturers and sellers of stuffed toys that does little to make such toys safer. In addition, current law only allows “new” materials to be used in the manufacture of stuffed toys. However, sterilized recycled materials can be safely used for stuffing through advancements in the recycling process. In other states, manufacturers are utilizing these advances in a safe, cost effective and environmentally friendly way, but Pennsylvania’s current law prohibits such practices and sales. Specifically, my legislation would:
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Introduced as HB1705