Last week, the newly amended toxic chemical lead ban bill passed the Massachusetts State Senate. The newly re-named version, S.2481, "An Act Providing for Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals", sponsored by State Senator Steven Tolman (D-2nd Suffolk & Middlesex), has been referred to the House Committee on Ways & Means chaired by State Representative Robert DeLeo (D-19th Suffolk). There is currently no scheduled vote on the bill at this time.
Fortunately, there were a number major improvements included in the Senate version. The improvements to the latest draft include:
- Limiting the authority of the Toxic Use Reduction Institute.
- Placing greater responsibility in the hands of the Administrative Council made up of government agency heads rather than an outside entities.
- Removing language to allow public petition to the Administrative Council to add new substances to the Second List for the Safer Alternatives Program.
- Requiring public comment period prior to any "Chemical Action Plans" moving forward.
- Elimination of the toxic chemical priorities in which lead was listed as number one.
Many thanks go out to all of our members whocontacted the legislature. It is because of NRA’s membership that the new proposal provides safeguards for all stakeholders. Since there is always room for improvement, NRA will continue to work with the Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) as well as the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to make changes that would provide even further oversight in this process.
Please contact your State Representative and members of the House Committee on Ways & Means to respectfully urge them to ask that additional safeguards be included in S.2481. Contact information for your State Representative can be found here. Contact information for the Committee can be found by clicking here.
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