S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8979
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 7, 2020
___________
Introduced by M. of A. STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the general business law and the general municipal law,
in relation to reducing the use of PFAS chemicals in firefighting
activities; to repeal certain provisions of the executive law relating
thereto; and to amend a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the
executive law relating to reducing the use of PFAS chemicals in fire-
fighting activities, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 439-A
and A. 445-A, in relation to the effectiveness thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
391-u to read as follows:
§ 391-U. RESTRICTIONS ON THE SALE AND USE OF FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT
CONTAINING PFAS CHEMICALS. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE
CONTEXT CLEARLY REQUIRES OTHERWISE:
(A) "CLASS B FIREFIGHTING FOAM" MEANS FOAMS DESIGNED TO PREVENT OR
EXTINGUISH IGNITABLE LIQUID FIRES.
(B) "IGNITABLE LIQUID FIRE" MEANS ANY FIRE INVOLVING A FLAMMABLE OR
COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID WHERE BLANKETING AND SMOTHERING FOR VAPOR SUPPRESSION
IS NEEDED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE.
(C) "FIREFIGHTING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT" MEANS ANY CLOTHING
DESIGNED, INTENDED, OR MARKETED TO BE WORN BY FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL IN
THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES, DESIGNED WITH THE INTENT FOR THE USE IN
FIREFIGHTING AND RESCUE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING JACKETS, PANTS, SHOES,
GLOVES, HELMETS, AND RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT.
(D) "LOCAL GOVERNMENTS" INCLUDES ANY COUNTY, CITY, TOWN, VILLAGE, FIRE
DISTRICT, FIRE COMPANY AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWO HUNDRED FOUR-A OF THE
GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW, REGIONAL FIRE PROTECTION AUTHORITY, OR OTHER
SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT THAT PROVIDES FIREFIGHTING SERVICES.
(E) "MANUFACTURER" INCLUDES ANY PERSON, FIRM, ASSOCIATION, PARTNER-
SHIP, CORPORATION, ORGANIZATION, JOINT VENTURE, IMPORTER OR DOMESTIC
DISTRIBUTOR OF FIREFIGHTING AGENTS OR FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03612-04-0
A. 8979 2
(F) "PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES" OR "PFAS CHEMI-
CALS" MEANS, FOR THE PURPOSES OF FIREFIGHTING AGENTS AND FIREFIGHTING
EQUIPMENT, A CLASS OF FLUORINATED ORGANIC CHEMICALS CONTAINING AT LEAST
ONE FULLY FLUORINATED CARBON ATOM.
(G) "PERSON" MEANS ANY INDIVIDUAL, PARTNERSHIP, ASSOCIATION, PUBLIC OR
PRIVATE CORPORATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF
LEGAL OR COMMERCIAL ENTITY, INCLUDING THEIR MEMBERS, MANAGERS, PARTNERS,
DIRECTORS, OR OFFICERS.
2. NO PERSON OR STATE AGENCY SHALL DISCHARGE OR OTHERWISE USE FOR
TRAINING PURPOSES CLASS B FIREFIGHTING FOAM THAT CONTAINS INTENTIONALLY
ADDED PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS CHEMICALS).
3. (A) COMMENCING TWO YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION,
NO MANUFACTURER OF CLASS B FIREFIGHTING FOAM MAY MANUFACTURE, KNOWINGLY
SELL, OFFER FOR SALE, DISTRIBUTE FOR SALE, OR DISTRIBUTE FOR USE IN THIS
STATE CLASS B FIREFIGHTING FOAM TO WHICH PFAS CHEMICALS HAVE BEEN INTEN-
TIONALLY ADDED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
(B) THE RESTRICTIONS IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT
APPLY TO THE MANUFACTURE, SALE, OR DISTRIBUTION OF CLASS B FIREFIGHTING
FOAM:
(1) FOR USE IN SUPPRESSING OR PREVENTING AN IGNITABLE LIQUID FIRE
WHERE THE OFFICE OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL, IN CONSULTATION WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, THROUGH PROMULGATION OF A RULE, EXEMPTS A USE OF CLASS B FIRE-
FIGHTING FOAM ON THE BASIS THAT AN ALTERNATIVE FIREFIGHTING AGENT TO
WHICH PFAS CHEMICALS HAVE NOT BEEN INTENTIONALLY ADDED AND THAT IS
EFFECTIVE IN SUPPRESSING OR PREVENTING AN IGNITABLE LIQUID FIRE IS NOT
AVAILABLE. IF THE OFFICE OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL EXEMPTS A USE OF
CLASS B FIREFIGHTING FOAM FROM THE RESTRICTIONS IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS
SUBDIVISION, IT SHALL RE-EVALUATE AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVE FIREFIGHTING
AGENTS AT LEAST EVERY TWO YEARS AS LONG AS THE EXEMPTION REMAINS IN
PLACE, AND REPEAL SUCH EXEMPTION UPON A FINDING THAT AN ALTERNATIVE
FIREFIGHTING AGENT TO WHICH PFAS CHEMICALS HAVE NOT BEEN INTENTIONALLY
ADDED IS AVAILABLE THAT IS EFFECTIVE IN SUPPRESSING OR PREVENTING AN
IGNITABLE LIQUID FIRE.
(2) WHERE THE INCLUSION OF PFAS CHEMICALS ARE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW
OR REGULATIONS. IN THE EVENT THAT APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAWS OR REGULATIONS
CHANGE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION TO ALLOW THE USE OF
EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE FIREFIGHTING AGENTS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN PFAS CHEM-
ICALS, THE OFFICE OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL MAY ADOPT RULES THAT
RESTRICT PFAS CHEMICALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE, SALE, AND DISTRIBUTION OF
FIREFIGHTING FOAM FOR USES THAT ARE ADDRESSED BY THE FEDERAL LAW OR
REGULATION.
4. (A) A MANUFACTURER OF CLASS B FIREFIGHTING FOAM RESTRICTED UNDER
SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOTIFY, IN WRITING, PERSONS THAT
SELL THE MANUFACTURER'S PRODUCTS IN THIS STATE ABOUT THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS SECTION NO LESS THAN ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF
THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION.
(B) A MANUFACTURER THAT PRODUCES, SELLS, OR DISTRIBUTES A CLASS B
FIREFIGHTING FOAM PROHIBITED UNDER SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION
SHALL RECALL THE PRODUCT, WHICH INCLUDES COLLECTION, TRANSPORT, TREAT-
MENT, STORAGE AND SAFE DISPOSAL, AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF THE
RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION AND REIM-
BURSE THE RETAILER OR ANY OTHER PURCHASER FOR THE PRODUCT.
5. (A) A MANUFACTURER OR OTHER PERSON THAT SELLS FIREFIGHTING PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO ANY PERSON, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OR STATE AGENCY
MUST PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE PURCHASER AT THE TIME OF SALE IF THE
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FIREFIGHTING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT CONTAINS PFAS CHEMICALS. THE
WRITTEN NOTICE MUST INCLUDE A STATEMENT THAT THE FIREFIGHTING PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT CONTAINS PFAS CHEMICALS AND THE REASON PFAS CHEMI-
CALS ARE ADDED TO THE EQUIPMENT.
(B) THE MANUFACTURER OR PERSON SELLING FIREFIGHTING PERSONAL PROTEC-
TIVE EQUIPMENT AND THE PURCHASER OF THE EQUIPMENT MUST RETAIN THE NOTICE
ON FILE FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE TRANSACTION.
6. THE OFFICE OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL MAY ISSUE GUIDANCE TO
STATE AGENCIES, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN
AVOIDING THE PURCHASE OR USE OF CLASS B FIREFIGHTING FOAMS TO WHICH PFAS
CHEMICALS HAVE BEEN INTENTIONALLY ADDED AND TO GIVE PRIORITY AND PREFER-
ENCE TO THE PURCHASE OF FIREFIGHTING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT
DOES NOT CONTAIN PFAS CHEMICALS.
7. ANY MANUFACTURER OR PERSON IN VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED FIVE THOUSAND
DOLLARS FOR EACH VIOLATION IN THE CASE OF A FIRST OFFENSE. MANUFACTURERS
OR PERSONS THAT ARE REPEAT VIOLATORS OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS
FOR EACH REPEAT OFFENSE. PENALTIES COLLECTED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE
DEPOSITED IN THE HAZARDOUS WASTE REMEDIAL FUND CREATED BY SECTION NINE-
TY-SEVEN-B OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW.
§ 2. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section
204-g to read as follows:
§ 204-G. RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF FIREFIGHTING FOAM CONTAINING PFAS
CHEMICALS. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
(A) "CLASS B FIREFIGHTING FOAM" MEANS FOAMS DESIGNED TO EXTINGUISH
IGNITABLE LIQUID FIRES.
(B) "IGNITABLE LIQUID FIRE" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED IN
PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED NINETY-ONE-U
OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW.
(C) "LOCAL GOVERNMENTS" INCLUDES ANY COUNTY, CITY, TOWN, VILLAGE, FIRE
DISTRICT, FIRE COMPANY AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWO HUNDRED FOUR-A OF THIS
ARTICLE, REGIONAL FIRE PROTECTION AUTHORITY, OR OTHER SPECIAL PURPOSE
DISTRICT THAT PROVIDES FIREFIGHTING SERVICES.
(D) "PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES" OR "PFAS CHEMI-
CALS" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (F) OF SUBDI-
VISION ONE OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED NINETY-ONE-U OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS
LAW.
2. NO LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHALL DISCHARGE OR OTHERWISE USE FOR TRAINING
PURPOSES CLASS B FIREFIGHTING FOAM THAT CONTAINS INTENTIONALLY ADDED
PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS CHEMICALS).
§ 3. Section 159-b of the executive law, as added by a chapter of the
laws of 2019, amending the executive law relating to reducing the use of
PFAS chemicals in firefighting activities, as proposed in legislative
bills numbers S. 439-A and A. 445-A, is REPEALED.
§ 4. Section 2 of a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the execu-
tive law relating to reducing the use of PFAS chemicals in firefighting
activities, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 439-A and A.
445-A, is amended to read as follows:
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized [and directed] to be
made and completed on or before such effective date.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that
sections one, two and three of this act shall take effect on the same
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date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending
the executive law relating to reducing the use of PFAS chemicals in
firefighting activities, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.
439-A and A. 445-A, takes effect.