S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________

                                        7627--A

                              2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y

                                     May 11, 2011
                                      ___________

       Introduced  by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, DINOWITZ, GUNTHER, MILLMAN, ROBINSON,
         WEPRIN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.  ARROYO,  COOK,  ENGLEBRIGHT,
         MAGEE,  McENENY,  P. RIVERA,  SCHIMEL -- read once and referred to the
         Committee on Children and Families -- recommitted to the Committee  on
         Children  and  Families  in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 --
         committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as  amended  and
         recommitted to said committee

       AN  ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring cord-
         less window coverings in foster homes,  child  day  care  centers  and
         other facilities

         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

    1    Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new  section
    2  390-i to read as follows:
    3    S  390-I.  CORDLESS WINDOW COVERINGS REQUIRED. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS
    4  SECTION THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS SET FORTH BELOW:
    5    (A) "BEADED CHAIN" MEANS A SERIES OF SMALL SPHERES, EQUALLY SPACED  ON
    6  A  CORD  OR  CONNECTED  BY METAL SHAFTS USED TO RAISE AND LOWER A WINDOW
    7  COVERING.
    8    (B) "CORD LOOP" MEANS A CURVING OR DOUBLING OF A BEADED CHAIN OR  CORD
    9  TO FORM A CLOSED LOOP.
   10    (C) "CORDLESS WINDOW COVERING" MEANS:
   11    (I) A HORIZONTAL BLIND OR CELLULAR SHADE THAT HAS NO DRAW CORD AND THE
   12  INTERNAL LIFT CORD RUNS IN THE SLATS OF THE HORIZONTAL BLIND SO THAT THE
   13  CORD IS INCAPABLE OF FORMING A LOOP GREATER THAN 7.25 INCHES;
   14    (II)  A  ROMAN  SHADE,  ROLL-UP BLIND, OR WOVEN SHADE THAT HAS NO DRAW
   15  CORD AND THE LIFT CORD IS COMPLETELY ENCLOSED SO THAT IT IS NOT ACCESSI-
   16  BLE;
   17    (III) A VERTICAL BLIND THAT HAS A WAND AS ITS OPERATING MECHANISM  AND
   18  DOES  NOT  CONTAIN ANY BEADED CHAINS, CORDED PULLEYS, OR OTHER CORD LOOP
   19  OPERATING MECHANISMS; AND

        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD11069-02-2

A. 7627--A 2 1 (IV) A ROLLER SHADE THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN A CORD OR BEADED CHAIN. 2 (D) "DRAW CORD" MEANS ANY FORM OF ROPE, STRAP, OR STRING USED TO RAISE 3 OR LOWER A WINDOW COVERING. 4 (E) "INTERNAL LIFT CORD" MEANS A CORD THAT IS CONTAINED INSIDE THE 5 BODY AND RAILS OF THE BLIND OR SHADE. 6 (F) "WAND" MEANS A ROD USED TO: 7 (I) ROTATE A VERTICAL BLIND; OR 8 (II) TILT A HORIZONTAL BLIND. 9 2. ANY AGENCY BOARDING HOME, GROUP HOME, FOSTER HOME, CHILD DAY CARE 10 CENTER, FAMILY DAY CARE CENTER OR GROUP FAMILY DAY CARE CENTER INSTALL- 11 ING NEW OR REPLACEMENT WINDOW COVERINGS ON OR AFTER OCTOBER FIRST, TWO 12 THOUSAND THIRTEEN, SHALL INSTALL CORDLESS WINDOW COVERINGS. 13 3. ANY AGENCY BOARDING HOME, GROUP HOME, FOSTER HOME, CHILD DAY CARE 14 CENTER, FAMILY DAY CARE CENTER OR GROUP FAMILY DAY CARE CENTER THAT HAS 15 WINDOW COVERINGS IN PLACE BEFORE OCTOBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN, 16 SHALL MEET MINIMUM SAFETY STANDARDS ESTABLISHED IN REGULATIONS JOINTLY 17 ADOPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES AND THE 18 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT INCLUDE STANDARDS FOR: 19 (A) ROMAN SHADES, ROLL-UP SHADES, WOVEN SHADES, AND ALL WINDOW 20 COVERINGS WITH EXPOSED AND UNSECURED CORDS; 21 (B) HORIZONTAL BLINDS, CELLULAR SHADES, AND ALL WINDOW COVERINGS THAT 22 HAVE DRAW CORDS FOR THEIR OPERATION; AND 23 (C) VERTICAL BLINDS AND OTHER WINDOW COVERING PRODUCTS WITH LOOPS 24 UTILIZED IN THEIR OPERATION. 25 4. IF A PERSON FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBDIVISION 26 THREE OF THIS SECTION, THE AUTHORIZED AGENCY SHALL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT 27 OF EXISTING WINDOW COVERINGS WITH CORDLESS WINDOW COVERINGS. 28 S 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2013. Effective immediate- 29 ly, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation 30 necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are 31 authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such 32 effective date.