03/16/2020 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE

         HB 27-REGULATION OF FLAME RETARDANT CHEMICALS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:45:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the  first order of business would                                                               
be HOUSE BILL NO. 27, "An  Act relating to the manufacture, sale,                                                               
distribution, and  labeling of child-related  products containing                                                               
certain  flame retardant  chemicals;  relating  to an  interstate                                                               
chemicals  clearinghouse;  adding  unlawful acts  to  the  Alaska                                                               
Unfair  Trade   Practices  and   Consumer  Protection   Act;  and                                                               
providing  for an  effective date."   [Before  the committee  was                                                               
CSHB 27(RES).]                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:46:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KARLA  HART,  Staff,  Representative  Geran  Tarr,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  on behalf  of representative  Tarr, prime  sponsor,                                                               
provided  a brief  review of  HB 27.   She  stated that  the bill                                                               
seeks to  regulate flame retardants  in Alaska.  She  addressed a                                                               
question about  federal regulation  of flame retardants  from the                                                               
last bill  hearing.   She clarified  that the  federal government                                                               
does  not  regulate  flame  retardants;  however,  they  do  have                                                               
standards for  mattress flammability  that can  be met  with non-                                                               
toxic options.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:47:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS  expressed his  appreciation for  the bill.                                                               
He  anecdotally   reported  that   its   surprisingly   hard  for                                                               
consumers to  figure out  which products  are non-toxic  and safe                                                               
for their families.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:47:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 3:47 p.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:47:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES  moved  to  report  CSHB  27(RES)  out  of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal notes.   There being no objection, CSHB  27(RES) was moved                                                               
from the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.