Establishes "Brendan's law"; requires child day care centers, public institutions for children and certain other facilities installing new or replacement window coverings on or after October 1, 2016, to install cordless window coverings; requires child day care centers, public institutions for children and certain other facilities that have window coverings in place before October 1, 2016, to meet certain safety standards established in regulations jointly adopted by the department of children and family services and the department of education.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7579
IN SENATE
May 15, 2014
___________
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT in relation to establishing Brendan's law; and to amend the
social services law, in relation to requiring cordless window
coverings in child day care centers, public institutions for children
and certain other facilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Brendan's
2 Law".
3 § 2. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 390-i
4 to read as follows:
5 § 390-i. Cordless window coverings required. 1. For purposes of this
6 section the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
7 (a) "Beaded chain" means a series of small spheres, equally spaced on
8 a cord or connected by metal shafts used to raise and lower a window
9 covering.
10 (b) "Cord loop" means a curving or doubling of a beaded chain or cord
11 to form a closed loop.
12 (c) "Cordless window covering" means:
13 (i) a horizontal blind or cellular shade that has no draw cord and the
14 internal lift cord runs in the slats of the horizontal blind so that the
15 cord is incapable of forming a loop greater than 7.25 inches;
16 (ii) a Roman shade, roll-up blind, or woven shade that has no draw
17 cord and the lift cord is completely enclosed so that it is not accessi-
18 ble;
19 (iii) a vertical blind that has a wand as its operating mechanism and
20 does not contain any beaded chains, corded pulleys, or other cord loop
21 operating mechanisms; and
22 (iv) a roller shade that does not contain a cord or beaded chain.
23 (d) "Draw cord" means any form of rope, strap, or string used to raise
24 or lower a window covering.
25 (e) "Internal lift cord" means a cord that is contained inside the
26 body and rails of the blind or shade.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05034-16-4
S. 7579 2
1 (f) "Wand" means a rod used to:
2 (i) rotate a vertical blind; or
3 (ii) tilt a horizontal blind.
4 2. Any agency boarding home, group home, child day care center, public
5 institution for children, or any authorized agency not including a
6 foster home, family day care center or group family day care center
7 installing new or replacement window coverings on or after October
8 first, two thousand sixteen, shall install cordless window coverings or
9 window coverings with inaccessible operational and inner cords.
10 3. Any agency boarding home, group home, child day care center, or
11 public institution for children or any authorized agency not including a
12 foster home, family day care center or group family day care center that
13 has window coverings in place before October first, two thousand
14 sixteen, shall meet minimum safety standards established in regulations
15 jointly adopted by the department of children and family services and
16 the department of education that include standards for:
17 (a) Roman shades, roll-up shades, woven shades, and all window
18 coverings with exposed and unsecured cords;
19 (b) horizontal blinds, cellular shades, and all window coverings that
20 have draw cords for their operation; and
21 (c) vertical blinds and other window covering products with loops
22 utilized in their operation.
23 4. If a person fails to comply with the requirements of subdivision
24 three of this section, the authorized agency may require replacement of
25 existing window coverings with cordless window coverings or window
26 coverings with inaccessible operational and inner cords.
27 § 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2016. Effective immediate-
28 ly, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
29 necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
30 authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such
31 effective date.
