04/08/2008 03:00 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES

SJR 18-CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:04:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON announced  that the only order of  business would be                                                               
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION  NO. 18, Requesting the  President of the                                                               
United  States  to  direct the  United  States  Consumer  Product                                                               
Safety Commission to  test the materials used  in children's toys                                                               
and  other  children's products  for  toxicity  and to  make  the                                                               
results publicly available.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:05:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES  moved to  report SJR  18 out  of committee.                                                               
There being no objection, SJR 18 was so moved.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:05:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON  commented, "I was  totally amazed, ...  107 recalls                                                               
already."                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER  asked if the problem  lies primarily with                                                               
imported,  foreign-made toys,  and  parts, or  if  there is  also                                                               
concern for domestic-made products.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:06:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATHERINE  PUSTAY, Staff,  to Senator  Bill Wielechowski,  Alaska                                                               
State Legislature, answered that the  problem stems from the lack                                                               
of a dedicated  watch dog agency, for  domestic, or international                                                               
toy products.   Further,  there is  no government  agency charged                                                               
with testing  toys for  toxicity levels.   The  Consumer Products                                                               
Safety  Commission  monitors  toys  for  chocking  and  ingestion                                                               
hazards,  but not  for  content.   She opined  that  many of  the                                                               
recent problems have arisen with  the globalization movement, and                                                               
the lack  of oversight.   Recalls only  occur when  something has                                                               
become glaringly  apparent.   There is an  inherent faith  on the                                                               
part  of the  consumer, when  purchasing a  child's toy,  that it                                                               
will be safe, she finished.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:08:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON  added that  lead based paint  has been  outlawed in                                                               
the U.S.  for many years,  but that does  not hold true  for many                                                               
countries.