SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3130

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 24, 2019

      The Senate Environment and Energy Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 3130 with committee amendments. 

      This bill would prohibit the sale, or offer for sale, of paint or coating removal products that contain methylene chloride (also called dichloromethane), except under certain circumstances.  The bill allows a person to sell a paint or coating removal product that contains methylene chloride to a person who can demonstrate to the seller that the product will be used only by persons with safety equipment, training on the use of that equipment, and proper handling instructions for methylene chloride consistent with the standards in federal regulations.  Any person who violates the bill’s provisions would be liable to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each violation.  If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which it continues would constitute a separate offense.

      The committee amendments to the bill provide that nothing in the bill shall be construed to impose liability on any news outlet that accepts or publishes advertising for any product that would otherwise be subject to the provisions of the bill.