Bill > A824

Introduced Session

This bill requires front-loading clothes washing machines and dryers to be equipped with child safety locks. The bill also requires that safety locks be installed by the vendor at the manufacturer's expense on machines previously purchased without child safety locks, and that notices and warning stickers are issued to consumers who previously purchased machines without child safety locks. Front-loading clothes washing machines and dryers can pose a potential risk of harm to young children who may play or hide inside and become trapped. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), since 2014, there have been at least three deaths, and 3,000 injuries to children five years or age and younger related to washing machines. This bill prohibits a person from selling or offering for sale in this State a front-loading clothes washing machine or front-loading clothes dryer that is not equipped with a child safety lock. A "child safety lock" is defined under the bill to mean a device or locking mechanism of a clothes washing machine or clothes dryer that: is installed in the machine during the machine's manufacture or, in accordance with the provisions of the bill, installed on a previously sold machine that was not equipped with a child safety lock; prevents the door of the machine from being opened; cannot be removed except through the use of a key, combination, or other method of access; and meets the standards established by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. Under the bill, in addition to the liability for any injury sustained because a front-loading clothes washing machine or dryer was not equipped with a child safety lock, a person who violates the provisions of the bill is to be liable for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for the first offense; and not more than $10,000 for the second or subsequent offense. A manufacturer of front-loading washing machines and dryers sold in the State is required under the bill to provide safety locks approved by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs for installation in front-loading washing machines or dryers not equipped with a child safety lock to any vendor that sold the machines prior to the effective date of the bill. The manufacturer is required to coordinate with the vendor to ensure installation of the child safety locks, which shall be installed at the manufacturer's expense. A manufacturer also is required to prepare a notice warning of the risks the machines may pose to children, and a sticker to be adhered to the machines warning of the dangers of not using a child safety lock and provide the notice and sticker to any vendor that sold the manufacturer's machines not equipped with a child safety lock prior to the effective date of the bill. A vendor also is required under the bill to contact any consumer who purchased a front-loading clothes washing machine or front-loading clothes dryer not equipped with a child safety lock prior to the effective date of the bill to coordinate the installation of a child safety lock, which is to be installed at the manufacturer's expense. A vendor also is required to provide a warning notice and sticker to the consumer. Finally, the bill requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs to establish standards for front-loading clothes washing machine and dryer safety locks and the notice and warning stickers required under the bill, and to promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill.

Committee Categories

Britnee Timberlake (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee (on 01/11/2022)

Official Document