BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair


          AB 1443 (Logue) - Home furnishings: inspections: reimbursement
          
          Amended: As Introduced          Policy Vote: B,P&ED 9-0
          Urgency: No                     Mandate: No
          Hearing Date: June 25, 2012                       Consultant: 
          Bob Franzoia  
          
          This bill does not meet the criteria for referral to the 
          Suspense File.


          Bill Summary: AB 1443 would require the Bureau of Electronic and 
          Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings, and Thermal Insulation 
          (bureau) to reimburse the manufacturer, distributer, or retailer 
          for the actual cost of the article or sample taken for analysis. 
           No reimbursement would be made if the article or sample is 
          found to be in violation of the Home Furnishing and Thermal 
          Insulation Act or a regulation of the bureau.

          Fiscal Impact: Estimated $100,000 to $115,000 annually from the 
          Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation Fund.

          Background: The Home Furnishing and Thermal Insulation Act 
          provides for the licensure and regulation of various 
          manufacturers, sellers, upholsterers, and sanitizers of home 
          furnishings, such as furniture and bedding.  

          Bureau staff may open any article of upholstered furniture or 
          bedding for the purpose of inspection and to take any part for 
          analysis.

          The bureau may condemn, withhold from sale, seize, or destroy 
          any upholstered furniture or bedding or any filling material or 
          insulation that is found to be in violation of the Home 
          Furnishing and Thermal Insulation Act.
          
          Staff Comments: AB 1443 requires the bureau to reimburse the 
          manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of any article or sample 
          taken for analysis, unless the article or sample is found to be 
          in violation of the act or bureau regulation.  Currently, the 
          bureau does not have the statutory authority to reimburse 
          manufacturers, and accordingly is unable to adopt clear 








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          implementing regulations.  However, The Department of Consumer 
          Affairs indicates that the bureau is currently compensating 
          manufacturers, distributors and retailers for furniture and 
          bedding taken for analysis.