HB2572enr 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2572 Enrolled LRB094 11168 RXD 41821 b

AN ACT concerning safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Brominated Fire Retardant Prevention Act.

Section 5. Legislative findings.

(a) Chemicals known as brominated flame retardants (BFR's) are widely used in the United States. To meet stringent fire standards, manufacturers add BFR's to a multitude of products, including plastic housing of electronics and computers, circuit boards, and the foam and textiles used in furniture.

(b) Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), which is a subcategory of BFR's, has increased forty-fold in human breast milk since the 1970s.

(c) PBDE has the potential to disrupt thyroid hormone balance and contribute to a variety of developmental deficits, including low intelligence and learning disabilities. PBDE may also have the potential to cause cancer.

(d) Substantial efforts to eliminate BFR's from products have been made throughout the world, including private and public sectors. These efforts have made available numerous alternatives safe to human health while meeting stringent fire standards. To meet market demand, it is in the interest of State manufacturers to eliminate the use of BFR's.

(e) In order to protect the public health and the environment, the General Assembly believes it is necessary for the State to develop a precautionary approach regarding the production, use, storage, and disposal of products containing brominated fire retardants.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"DecaBDE" means decabromodiphenyl ether.

"OctaBDE" means octabromodiphenyl ether.

"PBDE" means polybrominated diphenyl ether.

"PentaBDE" means pentabromodiphenyl ether.

Section 15. Regulation of brominated flame retardant.

(a) Effective January 1, 2006, a person may not manufacture, process, or distribute in commerce a product or a flame-retarded part of a product containing more than one-tenth of 1% of pentaBDE or octaBDE.

(b) Subsection (a) of this Section does not apply to the following:

(1) The sale by a business, charity, or private party of any used product containing PBDE.

(2) The distribution in commerce of original equipment manufacturer replacement service parts manufactured prior to the effective date of this Act.

(3) The processing of recycled material containing pentaBDE or octaBDE in compliance with applicable State and federal laws.

Section 20. Penalty. A person who violates Section 15 of this Act is guilty of a business offense and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine of not less than $10,000 and not more than $25,000 for each violation.

Section 25. DecaBDE Study. By January 2, 2006, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, shall submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report that reviews the latest available scientific research to address the following issues:

(1) whether decaBDE is bio-accumulating in humans and the environment, and if so, whether the levels of decaBDE are increasing, decreasing, or staying the same;

(2) how are humans exposed to decaBDE;

(3) what health effects could result from exposure to decaBDE, and are current levels of exposure at levels that could produce these effects;

(4) whether decaBDE breaks down into more harmful chemicals that could damage public health; and

(5) whether effective flame retardants are available for decaBDE uses, and whether the use of available alternatives reduce health risks while still maintaining an adequate level of flame retardant performance.

Section 30. Review of decaBDE study. By February 28, 2006, the Illinois Department of Public Health, shall submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report that reviews the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's decaBDE study. In addition to a review of any public health implications the Department of Public Health believes would result from exposure to decaBDE, it shall also comment on the following:

(1) the known exposure pathways for humans to decaBDE;

(2) what scientific evidence exists to demonstrate that decaBDE breaks down into other chemicals that could pose public health concerns; and

(3) what research and analysis exists on the potential human health effects of flame retardants that could be used as alternatives to decaBDE.

Section 35. Transportation of products containing PBDEs. Nothing in this Act restricts a manufacturer, importer, or distributor from transporting products containing PBDEs through this State or storing PBDEs in this State for further distribution.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.