CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 27(HSS) "An Act relating to flame retardants and to the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products containing flame retardants; relating to a multistate chemicals clearinghouse; and providing for an effective date." 9:06:03 AM SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, read from a sponsor statement (copy on file) and introduced SB 27. He stated that the bill would ban the use polybrominated fire retardants (PBDEs) from being manufactured, distributed, or sold in the state of Alaska; the negative health effects of these chemicals had been well documented, and their impact on children was disproportionately high. Alaskans are particularly vulnerable for three reasons: We spend a lot of time indoors with little ventilation, increasing our exposure to and ingestion of the microscopic particles of toxins found in household dust that are released from our furniture and electronics; we eat subsistence foods that may concentrate toxins; and through a process known as global distillation, toxins such as PBDEs are carried in the atmosphere for great distances from points of manufacture and concentrate in cold climates. He addressed several concerns that were raised during the last hearing on the bill by stating that the legislation would not impact fire safety and would not exempt products from meeting existing fire safety standards; there was not a trade-off where the legislature would be forced to decide between the "lesser of two evils". He noted that there had been concerns that the bill increased costs to consumers, but indicated that this was not true. He explained that similar bans had been adopted in the European Union, Illinois, and Washington and that affordability had not been an issue in those states. He directed the committee's attention to a letter from an Illinois Representative named Elaine Nekritz (copy on file); it stated that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency had conducted a comprehensive study to determine if there were cost or affordability issues associated with the state's ban on PBDEs, but had determined that there were none. Affordability issues did not exist because there were large markets that had already exempted and banned PBDEs. He stated that there were many companies that did not sell PBDEs and gave an example that the prior summer Walmart had adopted enhanced testing on products to insure that no PBDEs were sold in their stores. He shared that he had not heard anything from his constituents regarding increased prices in consumer grids and anticipated that other retailers would conform easily to the legislation. He offered that the "simple truth" was that PBDEs were largely being manufactured abroad; the legislation would protect American jobs and the health of children from foreign companies that sold products with toxic chemicals. He concluded that the bill had widespread statewide support from health officials and concerned citizens. Co-Chair Stedman discussed a new zero fiscal note from the Department of Health and Social Services, a new zero fiscal note from the Department of Public Safety, and a new fiscal impact note from the Department of Environmental Conservation for $139,000 in general funds for a new full- time environmental program specialist. 9:10:33 AM Senator Ellis MOVED to report CSSB 27(HSS) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. 9:10:45 AM CSSB 27(HSS) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a new zero fiscal note from the Department of Health and Social Services, a new zero fiscal note from the Department of Public Safety, and a new fiscal impact note from the Department of Environmental Conservation.