PRINTER'S NO. 225
No. 19 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, LESCOVITZ, BELARDI, DeWEESE, THOMAS, MELIO, READSHAW, TRAVAGLIO, SHANER, LAUGHLIN, DeLUCA, SOLOBAY, McILHATTAN, WOJNAROSKI, STABACK, PISTELLA, BISHOP, KELLER, E. Z. TAYLOR, TULLI, HARHAI, MICHLOVIC, CURRY, PETRARCA, COSTA, M. COHEN, BEBKO-JONES, FREEMAN, HORSEY, FRANKEL, McCALL, STEELMAN, PRESTON AND CIVERA, JANUARY 29, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JANUARY 29, 2001
A RESOLUTION 1 Memorializing political subdivisions, public, private or 2 nonpublic elementary or secondary schools or approved child- 3 care facilities operating a playground area within this 4 Commonwealth to establish minimum safety requirements for the 5 playground equipment, carry out periodic safety inspections 6 of the playground equipment and develop a long-range plan for 7 the maintenance of safe playground equipment in the future. 8 WHEREAS, For many children, playgrounds are a fundamental 9 part of the childhood experience; and 10 WHEREAS, America's youth have long enjoyed the benefits of 11 public playgrounds; and 12 WHEREAS, The challenges found on a playground are a great 13 asset for the physical, emotional, social and intellectual 14 development of children; and 15 WHEREAS, According to the United States Consumer Products 16 Safety Commission, more than 200,000 preschool and elementary 17 children are treated each year for injuries associated with 18 playground equipment; and
1 WHEREAS, Nearly 70% of those injuries occurred on public 2 playgrounds; and 3 WHEREAS, The United States Consumer Products Safety 4 Commission has, since 1981, established nonmandatory, nonbinding 5 standards which municipalities, schools and parks can utilize to 6 help ensure safe playgrounds; and 7 WHEREAS, It should be in the interest of every community and 8 school in Pennsylvania to provide a playground with safe 9 equipment for the children of that community or school; 10 therefore be it 11 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives memorialize 12 political subdivisions, public, private or nonpublic elementary 13 or secondary schools or approved child-care facilities operating 14 a playground area within this Commonwealth to establish a safety 15 maintenance plan, including inspections, for all nonhome 16 playgrounds within the community or school limits. L22L82JAM/20010H0019R0225 - 2 -