BILL NUMBER: S6438B
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to promoting
consumer choice by requiring manufacturers of digital electronic equip-
ment to provide retail sellers with a one through ten repair score that
will be displayed to consumers at point of sale
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would help consumers make informed decisions regarding repair-
ability when they purchase electronic devices such as laptops, phones,
and appliances.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The bill calls for the New York Attorney General to develop a methodol-
ogy consistent with international best practices for a repairability
scoring criteria from one to ten that manufacturers would use to rate
their digital electronic products. Manufacturers would have to provide
retailers with the repair score and supporting information for such
products. Manufacturers would be responsible for placing the repair
score on the packaging on such products and displaying these scores on
their websites.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill would help consumers make informed choices regarding the
purchase of electronic products while also being an important step with
regards to reducing electronic waste. It is modeled on first of its kind
legislation passed in France in 2020. According to the United States
Environmental Protection Agency, "e-waste" is the fastest-growing compo-
nent of the municipal waste stream in the United States. The United
Nations Global
E-Waste Monitor for 2020 reported that close to 54 million tons of
e-waste were generated globally in 2019 with less than 17.5% being recy-
cled. The remaining e-waste materials are discarded in landfills or
incinerated with harmful environmental and health impacts. The organiza-
tion U.S.PIRG estimates that better practices with regard to electronics
repairability could save the average US household approximately $400 per
year.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.8434/S.8332 of 2023-24
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
One year after becoming law.

Statutes affected:
S6438: 399-nn general business law, 399-nn(1) general business law, 399-nn(2) general business law
S6438A: 399-nn general business law, 399-nn(1) general business law, 399-nn(2) general business law
S6438B: 399-nn general business law, 399-nn(1) general business law, 399-nn(2) general business law