Senate Bill S8180

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8180

SPONSOR: KENNEDY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring the use of an
antimicrobial copper alloy for touch surfaces in new construction

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To require the use of an antimicrobial copper alloy that is recognized
by the US environmental Protection Agency for touch surfaces in new,
publicly funded construction projects in order to reduce the presence of
disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and yeasts on commonly used touch
surfaces and therefore protect public health.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 would amend the labor law by adding a new section 241-c
requiring the use of an antimicrobial copper alloy for touch surfaces in
new construction as defined by the United States Environmental
              

Protection Agency

Section 2 provides for an effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the registra-
tion of hundreds of antimicrobial copper alloys. Copper is the first
solid surface material to receive this type of EPA registration, which
is supported by extensive antimicrobial efficacy testing. EPA registra-
tion is based on independent laboratory tests showing that, when cleaned
regularly, copper, brass and bronze kill greater than 99.9% of the
following bacteria within 2 hours of exposure: Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis
(VRE), Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeru-
ginosa, and E. coli 0157:H7, among others. These bacteria are considered
to be representative of the most dangerous pathogens capable of causing
severe and often life-threatening infections. By using approved copper
alloys for touch surfaces including door handles, bathroom fixtures, bed
rails and handrails, we could significantly reduce the spread of
disease-causing organisms.

Studies by the American Society for Microbiology, among others, have
found that copper surfaces were able to rapidly kill bacteria, yeasts
and viruses through "contact killing". In the clinical trials, an 83%
reduction in bacteria was seen on the copper alloy components, when
compared to the surfaces made from standard materials in the control
rooms. Not only does copper kill disease causing organisms, but imple-
menting copper surfaces as a strategy to reduce transmission of viruses
and infections is especially effective because it does not fall victim
to the fallacies of human behavior. Other strategies, such as disinfect-
ing and hand washing, require cooperation on an individual basis, and
therefore lack ideal effectiveness. The use of copper-based surfaces,
however, is a passive measure that requires no human intervention and
its action is continuous rather than episodic.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law.