BILL NUMBER: AB 2218	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Williams

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to add Chapter 4.9 (commencing with Section 24540) to
Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to consumer
safety.

	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

   AB 2218, as introduced, Williams. Consumer safety: table saws.
   Existing law prohibits the sale of various types of products that
are determined to be unsafe for the public, including, among others,
specified bunk beds, infant cribs, and toys. Existing state
regulations require certain types of table saws to be guarded by a
hood and to contain various safety features to prevent injury.
   This bill would prohibit a seller, on or after January 1, 2015,
from selling a new table saw in this state unless that table saw is
equipped with active injury mitigation technology, as defined. The
bill would make a seller who violates these provisions subject to a
civil fine not exceeding $5,000 per sale. The bill would authorize
the Attorney General to maintain an action against any seller who
violates these provisions, as specified.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Chapter 4.9 (commencing with Section 24540) is added to
Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 4.9.  TABLE SAW SAFETY ACT


   24540.  This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Table
Saw Safety Act.
   24541.  For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions
apply:
   (a) "Active injury mitigation technology" means technology to
detect contact with, or dangerous proximity between, a hand or finger
and the teeth of the blade above the table top of a table saw, and
to prevent the blade from cutting the hand or finger deeper than
one-eighth of an inch when the hand or finger approaches any portion
of the blade above the table top at a speed of one foot per second
from any direction and along any path. Notwithstanding the prior
sentence, active injury mitigation technology may be temporarily
deactivated by a person so that a saw can cut material which would
otherwise be detected as a person.
   (b) "Seller" means any person who deals in or engages in the
business of selling table saws or any other person who sells table
saws in this state.
   (c) "Table saw" means a saw that is designed primarily for cutting
wood with a generally planar, circular blade having teeth around its
periphery and having a nominal diameter of 12 inches or less, where
the table saw includes a table top for supporting a work piece, and
where at least a portion of the blade extends above the table top to
cut a work piece on the table top. Table saws vary in price, size,
weight, motors, drive systems, stands, housings, and other features.
Common names of various types of table saws include, but are not
limited to, bench saws, bench top saws, contractor saws, hybrid saws,
and cabinet saws.
   24542.  (a) On or after January 1, 2015, a seller shall not sell
any new table saw in this state unless that table saw is equipped
with active injury mitigation technology.
   (b) Any seller who violates subdivision (a) is subject to a civil
fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each sale.
   (c) The Attorney General may maintain an action against any seller
who violates subdivision (a) for injunctive and any other
appropriate relief.