BILL NUMBER: AB 282	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 22, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Eggman

                        FEBRUARY 11, 2015

   An act to add Chapter 35 (commencing with Section 22948.8) to
Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, and to add Sections
1503.3 and 1596.848 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to window
coverings.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 282, as amended, Eggman. Corded window coverings.
   Existing law generally regulates various business activities and
practices, including the sale of cordless telephones within the
state.
   This bill would, beginning January 1,  2017, 
 2018,  make it unlawful to sell to a purchaser located in
the state a corded window covering. The bill would define "corded
window covering" as a window covering, including, but not limited to,
blinds, curtains, draperies, and shades, that has an accessible
cord, and would define "accessible cord" as any cord with a length of
over 7 3/4 inches, including a cord that can be extended or pulled
to exceed 7 3/4 inches. The bill would authorize a corded window
covering for which an accessible cord cannot be eliminated, as
specified, to be sold to a purchaser located in the state only if the
accessible cord is made inaccessible through the use of an effective
passive guarding device, such as a cord cover.
   Existing law provides for the licensing and regulation of
community care facilities, including, among others, residential
facilities, foster family homes, certified family homes, and group
homes by the State Department of Social Services. Existing law also
provides for the licensing and regulation of child day care
facilities by the department. A person who violates a law relating to
community care facilities, or who willfully or repeatedly violates a
law relating to child day care facilities, is guilty of a
misdemeanor.
   This bill would require a community care facility or child day
care facility that serves children under 6 years of age to remove all
corded window coverings or make the accessible cord inaccessible
through the use of an effective passive guarding device by January 1,
2019. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Chapter 35 (commencing with Section 22948.8) is added
to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 35.  CORDED WINDOW COVERINGS


   22948.8.  For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
   (a) "Accessible cord" means any cord with a length of over seven
and three-quarter inches, including a cord that can be extended or
pulled to exceed seven and three-quarter inches.
   (b) "Corded window covering" means a window covering, including,
but not limited to, blinds, curtains, draperies, and shades, that has
an accessible cord.
   22948.9.  (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), it is
unlawful to sell to a purchaser located in this state a corded window
covering.
   (b) If an accessible cord cannot be eliminated from a corded
window covering due to the large size of the window covering or for
another reason, the corded window covering may be sold to a purchaser
located in this state only if the accessible cord is made
inaccessible through the use of an effective passive guarding device,
such as a cord cover.
   22949.  This chapter shall become operative on January 1, 
2017.   2018. 
  SEC. 2.  Section 1503.3 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to
read:
   1503.3.  (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms
"accessible cord" and "corded window covering" have the same meaning
as in Section 22948.8 of the Business and Professions Code.
   (b) By January 1, 2019, every facility licensed or certified
pursuant to this chapter that serves children under six years of age
shall remove all corded window coverings or make the accessible cord
inaccessible through the use of an effective passive guarding device,
such as a cord cover.
  SEC. 3.  Section 1596.848 is added to the Health and Safety Code,
to read:
   1596.848.  (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms
"accessible cord" and "corded window covering" have the same meaning
as in Section 22948.8 of the Business and Professions Code.
   (b) By January 1, 2019, a child day care facility that serves
children under six years of age shall remove all corded window
coverings or make the accessible cord inaccessible through the use of
an effective passive guarding device, such as a cord cover.
  SEC. 4.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.