Donnelly and Child Advocates Call for Increased Product Safety

Pledge to keep Missouri children and families safe from dangerous products

JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri House Judiciary Committee held a hearing today on the Missouri Children's Product Safety Act, sponsored by State Rep. Margaret Donnelly, candidate for Attorney General.  HB 1361 would enact safeguards to protect children from the growing number of dangerous toys and products being sold.

"With over 100 product recalls in the past year alone, parents practically need a full-time research team to keep up," said Donnelly.  "If the government doesn't step in, we're setting ourselves up for disaster.  My bill will keep these dangerous toys and products off the shelf, helping parents keep their children safe."

Donnelly's bill would prohibit the sale of all unsafe children's products and make product recalls mandatory in Missouri, penalizing companies that fail to remove the products in a timely manner.  The bill also would empower the Attorney General to prosecute violators and notify the public of safety recalls.

"We need to move from voluntary recalls to mandatory recalls," said Donnelly.  "Otherwise sending your children into the toy store becomes the equivalent of letting them play Russian Roulette. The safety of our kids must be our number one priority."

At today's hearing, Nancy Cowles, Executive Director of Kids In Danger (KID), testified in support of Donnelly's bill.  KID is a nationally-recognized nonprofit organization and the leading expert on improving product safety.

"We thank Rep. Donnelly for her leadership and commitment to protecting children," said Cowles.  "We urge the General Assembly to pass this legislation for the safety of children across Missouri."

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