Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CLINTON CALABRESE
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER
District 22 (Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Requires certain products with electric motor and batteries to have red tag attached to charging cord that warns to unplug product when not in use.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain products with electric motors and batteries and supplementing Title 56 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Division" means the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety.
“Lithium-ion battery” means any button, coin, cylindrical, rectangular or other shaped dry cell battery consisting of lithium and other chemicals commonly used in electrical devices.
"Low-speed electric bicycle" means the same as that term is defined in R.S.39:1-1.
"Low-speed electric scooter" means the same as that term is defined in R.S.39:1-1.
“Motorized bicycle” means the same as that term is defined in R.S.39:1-1 and includes only those motorized bicycles that are powered by an electric motor and shall not include wheelchairs or other mobility devices designed for use by persons with disabilities.
“Motorized scooter” means the same as that term is defined in R.S.39:1-1 and includes only those motorized scooters that are powered by an electric motor and shall not include wheelchairs or other mobility devices designed for use by persons with disabilities.
“Motorized skateboard” means the same as that term is defined in R.S.39:1-1 and includes only those motorized skateboards that are powered by an electric motor.
“Storage battery” means a battery or cell used for storing electrical energy.
b. A person shall not sell, lease, rent, or otherwise distribute, or offer for sale, lease, rental, or distribution, a low-speed electric bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, motorized bicycle, motorized scooter, or motorized skateboard or any lithium-ion or storage battery used to power such product, unless there is a red tag affixed to the charging cord of such product, which clearly and conspicuously states "UNPLUG WHEN NOT IN USE." Such tag shall include additional consumer safety information regarding safe usage of the product and its charging equipment and shall be affixed to the cord near the end which is plugged into the electricity source.
c. The Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety shall post a model tag containing the information outlined in this section that persons selling, leasing, renting, or otherwise distributing a low-speed electric bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, motorized bicycle, motorized scooter, or motorized skateboard can affix to such charging cords as required by this section.
d. The division shall promulgate rules and regulations providing guidance on the consumer safety information required to be on the tag pursuant to this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits the sale, lease, rental, or distribution of a low-speed electric bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, lithium-ion or storage battery, motorized bicycle, motorized scooter, or motorized skateboard unless there is a red tag affixed to the charging cord of the product, which clearly and conspicuously states "UNPLUG WHEN NOT IN USE."
Under the bill, the tag is required to include additional consumer safety information regarding the safe usage of the product and its charging equipment and is required to be affixed to the cord near the end which is plugged into the electricity source.
The Division of Consumer Affairs is required to post a model tag and to promulgate rules and regulations providing guidance on the consumer safety information required pursuant to the bill.