NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
ASSEMBLY SUBCOMMITTEE ON CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING


SUBJECT:

Household Scalding Safety Act

PURPOSE:

To examine legislation and policy options to reduce incidences of tap water scalding.

Albany, NY
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Roosevelt Hearing Room C
Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor
10:00 a.m.


Hot water, including tap water in bath tubs and showers, is the leading cause of both scalds and hospital admissions for burns. It has been reported that 3,800 injuries and thirty-four deaths occur annually in the home due to scalding from excessively hot tap water. The majority of these injuries involve the elderly and children under the age of five. Since infants, young children, the elderly and disabled may not be able to respond quickly to a situation involving contact with hot water, a constant safe water temperature may prevent scalds.

Some states have enacted legislation to require new water heaters to be preset at no higher than 120 F when they are installed. This hearing will examine legislative and policy options to reduce the incidence of tap water scalding, including a review of Assembly bill 10292.

Please see the reverse side for a list of questions to which witnesses may direct their testimony, and for a description of the bills that will be discussed at the hearing.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.


RoAnn M. Destito, Chair
Committee on Governmental Operations

Audrey I. Pheffer, Chair
Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection

Ginny Fields, Chair
Subcommittee on Child Product Safety



SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

  1. Describe the impact of a household water temperature set higher than 120 F degrees. How is the rate of scalding impacted above 120 F?

  2. What would the impact on energy consumption be if a 120 F water temperature standard was enacted?

  3. At what temperature does the growth of bacteria have an adverse impact on public safety?

  4. What is the minimum standard for water temperatures in New York hospitals?

  5. What other states or municipalities have enacted provisions to prevent scalding?

  6. What other initiatives should be considered to prevent scalding accidents?



PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

Destiny DeJesus
Committee Assistant
Assembly Committee on Governmental Operations
AESOB - 22nd Floor
Albany, New York 12248
E-mail: dejesusd@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4355
Fax: (518) 455-7250


box I plan to attend the following public hearing on Household Scalding Safety to be conducted by the Assembly Committees on Governmental Operations and Consumer Affairs and Protection and the Subcommittee on Child Product Safety on April 30, 2008.

box I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to ten minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 15 copies of my prepared statement.

box I do not plan to attend the above hearing.

box I would like to be added to the Committee mailing list for notices and reports.

box I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list.

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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:






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