Actions

Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________

7627--B

2011-2012 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

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 -- again reported from said committee
  with amendments, 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 child day care centers,  public  institutions
  for children and certain other facilities

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

  Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new  section
390-i to read as follows:
  S  390-I.  CORDLESS WINDOW COVERINGS REQUIRED. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS
SECTION THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS SET FORTH BELOW:
  (A) "BEADED CHAIN" MEANS A SERIES OF SMALL SPHERES, EQUALLY SPACED  ON
A  CORD  OR  CONNECTED  BY METAL SHAFTS USED TO RAISE AND LOWER A WINDOW
COVERING.
  (B) "CORD LOOP" MEANS A CURVING OR DOUBLING OF A BEADED CHAIN OR  CORD
TO FORM A CLOSED LOOP.
  (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 7.25 INCHES;
  (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;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD11069-06-2
A. 7627--B                          2

  (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.
  (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 ROD USED TO:
  (I) ROTATE A VERTICAL BLIND; OR
  (II) TILT A HORIZONTAL BLIND.
  2. ANY AGENCY BOARDING HOME, GROUP HOME, CHILD DAY CARE CENTER, PUBLIC
INSTITUTION FOR CHILDREN, OR  ANY  AUTHORIZED  AGENCY  NOT  INCLUDING  A
FOSTER  HOME,  FAMILY  DAY  CARE  CENTER OR GROUP FAMILY DAY CARE CENTER
INSTALLING NEW OR REPLACEMENT  WINDOW  COVERINGS  ON  OR  AFTER  OCTOBER
FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN, SHALL INSTALL CORDLESS WINDOW COVERINGS OR
WINDOW COVERINGS WITH INACCESSIBLE OPERATIONAL AND INNER CORDS.
  3.  ANY  AGENCY  BOARDING  HOME, GROUP HOME, CHILD DAY CARE CENTER, OR
PUBLIC INSTITUTION FOR CHILDREN OR ANY AUTHORIZED AGENCY NOT INCLUDING A
FOSTER HOME, FAMILY DAY CARE CENTER OR GROUP FAMILY DAY CARE CENTER THAT
HAS WINDOW COVERINGS IN PLACE BEFORE OCTOBER FIRST, TWO  THOUSAND  THIR-
TEEN,  SHALL  MEET  MINIMUM  SAFETY STANDARDS ESTABLISHED IN REGULATIONS
JOINTLY ADOPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND  FAMILY  SERVICES  AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT INCLUDE 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 DRAW CORDS FOR THEIR OPERATION; AND
  (C)  VERTICAL  BLINDS  AND  OTHER  WINDOW COVERING PRODUCTS WITH LOOPS
UTILIZED IN THEIR OPERATION.
  4. IF A PERSON FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF  SUBDIVISION
THREE  OF  THIS SECTION, THE AUTHORIZED AGENCY SHALL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT
OF EXISTING WINDOW COVERINGS WITH CORDLESS WINDOW  COVERINGS  OR  WINDOW
COVERINGS WITH INACCESSIBLE OPERATIONAL AND INNER CORDS.
  S  2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2013. Effective immediate-
ly, the addition, amendment and/or repeal  of  any  rule  or  regulation
necessary  for  the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized and directed to be made  and  completed  on  or  before  such
effective date.