Assemblywoman Audra Strickland
Serving the Thirty Seventh District that includes Camarillo, Fillmore, Los Angeles, Moorpark, Ojai, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks

SACRAMENTO—Assembly Majority Whip Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) and Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R-Camarillo) today joined forces to protect California’s children from lead in products intended for children under 12. The bipartisan effort passed the Assembly Floor on a vote of 56-6.

AB 2694 establishes enforceable standards for lead in accessible parts of children’s products, beginning in 2013. The standard of 100 parts per million is six times stronger than current federal guidelines of 600 parts per million, and substantially broader because the federal guideline applies only to paint on toys, while AB 2694 covers any accessible part. Although there has been progress on federal legislation to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission, California’s action ensures the state’s kids are protected regardless of the federal outcome.

“Today, the California Assembly demonstrated that Democrats and Republicans can work together to protect our most vulnerable residents from harm,” said Assemblywoman Ma. “Last year, I couldn’t get a Republican vote on toy safety. This year, we worked with environmentalists, toymakers and academic experts to forge a bipartisan consensus to limit lead exposure. That’s progress.”

Assemblywoman Audra Strickland announced her co-authorship of the measure and spoke in support of AB 2694 on the Assembly Floor, “As a mother of two children, it is my first and foremost responsibility to protect my children from harm.” Strickland, who has requested to be a co-author of AB 2694, commended Assemblywoman Ma for working with all parties stating, “This bill will help ensure that our children are better protected.”

AB 2694 will next be heard in the California State Senate. Assemblywoman Ma is committed to continue working with all groups as the bill moves through the Senate.