Senator Hoylman Denounces Republicans' Revamped 'Child Safe Products Act'; Drops Cosponsorship of Legislation

Hoylman: "We shouldn't compromise on safety, especially for kids. This proposal is a pale imitation of a bill that would have gone a long way toward protecting our children from toxic toys." 

NEW YORK – Today, State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan), Ranking Member of the Environmental Conservation Committee, denounced a new version of the Child Safe Products Act put forward by Senate Republicans and announced he would drop his co-sponsorship of the legislation.

Senator Hoylman said: "We shouldn't compromise on safety, especially for kids. The Republicans' revamped Child Safe Products Act is a pale imitation of a bill that would have gone a long way toward protecting our children from toxic toys.  Forty-two of my Senate colleagues and I sponsor the original bill, so I see no sound reason for the legislature to cave to the demands of the chemical lobby and toy manufacturers and water this legislation down based on back-door negotiations.

“This bill gives the Senate and industry cover but still allows kids to remain at risk of serious health problems with unknown consequences. That's why I'm removing my name from co-sponsorship of the Child Safe Products Act and I encourage my colleagues to do the same."

The amended bill removes oversight from the Department of Environmental Conservation, and hands it to the Department of State, an agency without the requisite experience and resources to effectively implement the legislation. It also creates a potential loophole by exempting some manufacturers from oversight if they have a "manufacturing control program" in place. The amended bill would retroactively pre-empt stronger local bans against toxic toys, such as the ones that have passed in Albany, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties.

###