The Senate gave final approval to a bill to regulate toxic chemicals found in children’s products.
It will now go to the House for final approval.
The bill, S.239, gives the Vermont Department of Health the authority to require manufacturers to report, label and remove chemicals it considers harmful from products marketed to children under 12 years old or that a child is likely to come into contact with.
Sen. Ginny Lyons, D-Chittenden, is the bill’s lead sponsor.
“Overall, it’s a big step forward for our state in regulating toxics,” she said. “I really hope that this begins to turn the tide on those learning disabilities, autism and other diseases that are caused by toxic chemicals.”
The program would require manufacturers to report chemicals to a state website that the health department considers to pose a possible harm to consumers every two years starting July 1, 2016. Manufacturers would pay a biannual $200 reporting fee to support the program.
The health department will report back to lawmakers next session with a budget for the program. It can also recommend whether to expand the scope of the program to a broader range of consumer products.
Lyons amended the bill to remove one business representative from a proposed working group appointed by the governor to make recommendation to the health commissioner on regulations.
The Legislature currently regulates chemicals one at a time. This bill gives full regulatory to the health commissioner instead.
“I still have concerns about relinquishing our responsibilities as representatives of the people and elected by the people,” said Sen. Bobby Starr, D-Essex-Orleans, who voted against the bill.
Manufacturers have lobbied against the bill this session to successfully limit the scope of the bill to children’s products in the House. The Senate amended the bill Monday to expand this definition to include products containing toxic chemicals that children come into contact with.
