Prohibiting the use, manufacture, distribution, and sale of consumer products containing certain chemicals, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions

This bill relates to certain consumer products that contain certain chemicals. The bill prohibits the sale of upholstered furniture that contains flame-retardant chemicals or chemical compounds. The bill makes exceptions for used upholstered furniture, certain upholstered furniture purchased for public use in public facilities, and new upholstered furniture that is otherwise subject to the prohibition but was imported into the state or otherwise purchased or acquired by a retailer or wholesaler for sale or distribution in the state prior to January 1, 2023. The bill prohibits the sale of food packaging, class B fire fighting foam, and fire fighting personal protective equipment that contains a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance that was intentionally added. The bill makes an exception for new food packaging, class B fire fighting foam, and fire fighting personal protective equipment that is otherwise subject to the prohibition but was imported into the state or otherwise purchased or acquired by a retailer or wholesaler for sale or distribution in the state prior to January 1, 2023. The bill also prohibits a person, local government, or state agency from discharging or otherwise using for training purposes a class B fire fighting foam that contains a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance that was intentionally added, with certain exceptions. A violation of the provisions in the bill regulating products is a simple misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than days or a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855 or by both. These provisions take effect January 1, 2023. The bill requires the department of public health to conduct a one-year study investigating perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food packaging and finding safe alternative food packaging materials. The department shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the general assembly by December 31, 2023.