PRINTER'S NO. 2234
No. 1760 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY L. I. COHEN, BELFANTI, BROWNE, DiGIROLAMO, EACHUS,
FEESE, FLICK, GEORGE, HARPER, MAJOR, McGILL, McILHINNEY,
S. MILLER, O'BRIEN, SCRIMENTI, SEMMEL, WILT, THOMAS,
J. BAKER, CAPPELLI, WOJNAROSKI, LAUGHLIN, SOLOBAY, SAINATO,
FRANKEL, HARHAI, TIGUE, JOSEPHS, MACKERETH AND YOUNGBLOOD,
JUNE 14, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, JUNE 14, 2001
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Infant Sheet and Crib Safety Education and
2 Injury Prevention Program; providing for the powers and
3 duties of the Department of Health; and requiring an annual
4 report to the General Assembly.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Infant Sheet
9 and Crib Safety Education and Injury Prevention Act.
10 Section 2. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 "Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
15 "Program." The Infant Sheet and Crib Safety Education and
16 Injury Prevention Program established in section 3.
17 Section 3. Infant Sheet and Crib Safety Education and Injury
1 Prevention Program.
2 (a) Establishment.--The department shall establish the
3 Infant Sheet and Crib Safety Education and Injury Prevention
4 Program.
5 (b) Duties of department.--The department shall:
6 (1) Provide staff support and departmental resources
7 necessary to implement the program.
8 (2) Identify appropriate public and nonpublic entities
9 to assist in the implementation and operation of the program.
10 (3) Collect and maintain up-to-date information that
11 will increase public awareness and contribute to education
12 programs, including, but not limited to, safety standards for
13 cribs, crib sheets and other bedding used for infants,
14 measures for safety and prevention of injury and death
15 resulting from unsafe cribs, crib sheets and bedding for
16 infants.
17 (4) Develop relationships with governmental agencies,
18 community and business leaders, community organizations,
19 child-care, human service and health care providers and child
20 advocacy organizations to coordinate efforts and maximize
21 public and private resources in the areas of education and
22 injury prevention.
23 Section 4. Public awareness and education.
24 (a) General rule.--The program shall:
25 (1) Educate parents, child-care providers, health care
26 professionals, educators, human service professionals,
27 businesses, including, but not limited to, manufacturers and
28 retailers of infant bedding and furniture and hotels and
29 other businesses or organizations that provide sleeping
30 accommodations for infants.
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1 (2) Include methods to raise public awareness and to
2 educate the public to engage in related activities as
3 appropriate.
4 (b) Methods for public awareness.--The department shall use
5 various methods for raising public awareness of the risks and
6 the standards for safety and activities to prevent infant injury
7 and death from unsafe crib sheets, cribs and other bedding,
8 including, but not limited to:
9 (1) An outreach campaign utilizing print, radio and
10 television public service announcements, advertisements,
11 posters and other materials.
12 (2) Community forums.
13 (3) Distribution of information at public events.
14 (4) Targeting at-risk populations.
15 (5) Provision of reliable information to policy makers.
16 (6) Distribution of information through county and
17 district health offices, city and county health departments,
18 schools, child-care centers, health care providers,
19 businesses and nonprofit and community organizations.
20 (c) Methods for public education.--The department shall use
21 methods to educate parents, child-care providers, businesses and
22 other organizations, including, but not limited to:
23 (1) The provision of available brochures, videotapes and
24 other materials.
25 (2) Establishment of a Statewide capacity to provide
26 information on all aspects of infant crib sheet and crib
27 safety.
28 (3) The provision of educational information to parents,
29 child-care providers and others through established
30 department toll-free help lines, such as CONNECT or HEALTHY
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1 BABY.
2 (4) The provision of assistance to groups that conduct
3 workshops and seminars for the public.
4 Section 5. Grant acceptance.
5 The department may accept grants, services and property from
6 the Federal Government, foundations, organizations and other
7 entities as may be available to carry out the provisions of this
8 act.
9 Section 6. Reporting.
10 On or before December 31 of each year, the department shall
11 report to the General Assembly on the establishment,
12 implementation and operation of the program.
13 Section 7. Effective date.
14 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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