S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
830
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 6, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sen. BRISPORT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to window coverings
required in child day care centers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 390-m of the social services law, as added by a
chapter of the laws of 2022 relating to establishing Brendan's law; and
amending the social services law relating to requiring cordless window
coverings in child day care centers and certain other facilities, as
proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 6900 and A. 2150-A, is amended
to read as follows:
§ 390-m. [Cordless window] WINDOW coverings [required]. 1. For
purposes of this section the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth below:
(a) "Beaded chain" means a cord with a series of small spheres, typi-
cally made of metal or plastic.
(b) "Cord loop" means a loop formed by an inner cord that does not
diminish in size when the force used to create the loop is removed.
(c) "Cordless window covering" means:
(i) a horizontal blind or cellular shade that has no draw cord and the
internal lift cord runs in the slats of the horizontal blind so that the
cord is incapable of forming a loop greater than 4 inches in diameter
resulting in a 12-inch maximum circumference;
(ii) a Roman shade, roll-up blind, or woven shade that has no draw
cord and the lift cord is completely enclosed so that it is not accessi-
ble;
(iii) a vertical blind that has a wand as its operating mechanism and
does not contain any beaded chains, corded pulleys, or other cord loop
operating mechanisms; and
(iv) a roller shade that does not contain a cord or beaded chain.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04030-01-3
S. 830 2
(d) "Draw cord" means any form of rope, strap, or string used to raise
or lower a window covering.
(e) "Internal lift cord" means a cord that is contained inside the
body and rails of the blind or shade.
(f) "Wand" means a rigid material used for manual operation.
2. Any child day care center as defined in paragraph (c) of subdivi-
sion one of section three hundred ninety of this title [or any author-
ized agency as defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision ten of section
three hundred seventy-one of this title including any agency boarding
home or group home] installing new or replacement window coverings shall
install cordless window coverings or window coverings with inaccessible
operational and inner cords.
3. Any child day care center as defined in paragraph (c) of subdivi-
sion one of section three hundred ninety of this title [or any author-
ized agency as defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision ten of section
three hundred seventy-one of this title including any agency boarding
home or group home] that has window coverings in place [prior to] ON the
effective date of this section, shall [meet the requirements of
ANSI/WCMA A 100.1-2018 or any successor standard thereto, including
standards for:
(a) Roman shades, roll-up shades, woven shades, and all window
coverings with exposed and unsecured cords;
(b) horizontal blinds, cellular shades, and all window coverings that
have exposed draw cords for their operation; and
(c) vertical blinds and other window covering products with loops
utilized in their operation] ENSURE THAT ALL WINDOW AND DOOR BLIND
CORDS, ROPES, WIRES AND OTHER STRANGULATION HAZARDS ARE SECURED AND
INACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS OF THE
OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES.
4. If a [person] CHILD DAY CARE CENTER fails to comply with the
requirements of subdivision three of this section, the [authorized agen-
cy] OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES may require replacement of
existing window coverings with cordless window coverings or window
coverings with inaccessible operational and inner cords.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
manner as a chapter of the laws of 2022 relating to establishing
Brendan's law; and amending the social services law relating to requir-
ing cordless window coverings in child day care centers and certain
other facilities, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 6900 and
A. 2150-A, takes effect.