Last session, the state House unanimously passed legislation that would strengthen Pennsylvania's consumer protection laws by targeting unsafe toys and other children's products. Unfortunately, the state Senate did not take action on the bill, and it died.

I have reintroduced this bill, now H.B. 39, which would make it a crime in Pennsylvania to knowingly sell recalled children's products and would give the state attorney general and local district attorneys the authority to prosecute such offenses.

The attorney general also would be required to establish and maintain a website that would provide links to lists of all national agencies that deal with consumer product safety and product recalls. The products identified by any of these lists would be restricted from sale or commerce within Pennsylvania.

The bill also would require manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and distributors to notify their customers and retailers of recalled children's products within 24 hours of the announced recall. Retailers would have three days to remove recalled items from their shelves.

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