S 374 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to provide regulatory relief to small and family-owned businesses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 4, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. DEMINT (for himself, Mr. VITTER, Mr. WICKER, and Mr. CHAMBLISS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to provide regulatory relief to small and family-owned businesses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS INAPPLICABLE TO SECOND-HAND SELLERS.

Section 19 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2068) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) EXCEPTIONS FOR SECOND-HAND SELLERS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- It is not a violation of subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section for a second-hand seller to sell, offer for sale, or distribute in commerce--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a consumer product for resale that is treated as a banned hazardous substance under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261 et seq.) because of the application of section 101(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 1278a); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) a children’s product without the label required by section 14(c) of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) SECOND-HAND SELLER DEFINED- In this subsection, the term ‘second-hand seller’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a consignment shop, thrift shop, or similar enterprise that sells, offers for sale, or distributes in commerce a product after the first retail sale of that product;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) an individual who utilizes the Internet, a yard sale, or other casual means of selling, or offering for sale, such a product; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) a person who sells, or offers for sale, such a product at an auction for the benefit of a nonprofit organization.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. PROSPECTIVE APPLICATION OF LEAD CONTENT AND THIRD PARTY TESTING RULES.

(a) LEAD CONTENT- Section 101(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 1278a(a)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘(b) beginning on the dates provided in paragraph (2),’ in paragraph (1) and inserting ‘(b),’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking ‘(15 U.S.C. 1261 et seq.).’ in paragraph (1) and inserting ‘(15 U.S.C. 1261 et seq.) if it is manufactured after the date on which such limit takes effect.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking ‘180 days’ in paragraph (2)(A) and inserting ‘360 days’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) by striking ‘1 year’ in paragraph (2)(B) and inserting ‘18 months’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) by striking ‘3 years’ in paragraph (2)(C) and inserting ‘3 1/2 years’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) by striking ‘3 years’ in paragraph (2)(D) and inserting ‘3 1/2 years’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) THIRD PARTY TESTING- Section 14(a)(3)(A) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(3)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘after August 9, 2009, and’ after ‘manufactured’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) APPLICATION- The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall be treated as having taken effect on August 15, 2008.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. LEAD CONTENT CERTIFICATION; WAIVER OF THIRD PARTY TESTING REQUIREMENT.

Section 14(g) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2063(g)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) SPECIAL RULE FOR LEAD CONTENT TESTING AND CERTIFICATION- Subsection (a) shall not require the manufacturer or private labeler of a product to test a product for, or certify it with respect to, lead content if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) each component of the product has been tested for lead content by the manufacturer or private labeler of the component; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the manufacturer or private labeler of each such component certifies that the component (including paint, electroplating, and other coatings) does not contain more lead than the limit established by section 101(a)(2) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 1278a(a)(2)).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. SUSPENSION OF ENFORCEMENT PENDING FINAL REGULATIONS.

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, neither the Consumer Product Safety Commission nor the Attorney General of any State may initiate an enforcement proceeding under the Consumer Product Safety Act or the Federal Hazardous Substances Act for failure to comply with the requirements of, or for violation of, the following provisions of law until 30 days after the date on which the Commission issues the referenced rule, regulation, or guidance:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Section 101(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 1278a) with respect to materials, products, or parts described in subsection (b)(1), until the date on which the Commission promulgates a final rule providing the guidance required by section 101(b)(2)(B) of that Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Section 101(a) of that Act with respect to certain electronic devices described in section 101(b)(4) of that Act, until the date on which the Commission, by final regulation, issues the requirements described in subparagraph (A) of section 101(b)(4) and establishes the schedule described in subparagraph (A) of section 101(b)(4).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Section 14(a)(1) or (2) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(1) or (2)), until the date on which--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the Commission has established and published final notice of the requirements for accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies under section 14(a)(3)(B)(vi) of that Act for products to which children’s product safety rules established or revised before August 14, 2008, apply,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the Commission has established by final regulation requirements for the periodic audit of third party conformity assessment bodies under section 14(d)(1) of that Act (15 U.S.C. 2063(d)(1)), orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the Commission has by final regulation initiated the program required by section 14(d)(2)(A) of that Act (15 U.S.C. 2063(d)(2)(A)) and established protocols and standards under section 14(d)(2)(B) of that Act (15 U.S.C. 2063(d)(2)(B)),CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





whichever is last.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. WAIVER OF CIVIL PENALTY FOR INITIAL GOOD FAITH VIOLATION.

Section 20(c) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2069(c)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: ‘The Commission shall waive any civil penalty under this section if the Commission determines that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) the violation is the first violation of section 19(a) by that person; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) the person was acting in good faith with respect to the act or omission that constitutes the violation.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. SMALL ENTERPRISE COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE.

(a) IN GENERAL- Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, or as soon thereafter as is practicable, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in consultation with the Small Business Administration and State small business agencies, shall develop a compliance guide for small enterprises to assist them in complying with the requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.) and other Acts enforced by the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) CONTENTS- The guide--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) shall be designed to assist small enterprises to determine--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) whether the Consumer Product Safety Act (or any other Act enforced by the Commission) applies to their business activities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) whether they are considered distributors, manufacturers, private labelers, or retailers under the Act; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) which rules, standards, regulations, or statutory requirements apply to their business activities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) shall provide guidance on how to comply with any such applicable rule, standard, regulation, or requirement, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) what actions they should take to ensure that they meet the requirements; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) how to determine whether they have met the requirements; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) may contain such additional information as the Commission deems appropriate, including telephone, e-mail, and Internet contacts for compliance support and information.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION- The Commission shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) publish a sufficient number of copies of the guide to satisfy both individual requests for copies and mass requests to accommodate distribution by chambers of commerce, trade associations and other organizations the membership of which includes small enterprises whose business activities are affected by the requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Act and other Acts enforced by the Commission;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) make the guide available, without charge, by mail; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) provide easy access to the guide on the Commission’s public website.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink