Assembly Bill #625

Introduced by Assembly Member Lieu

February 25, 2009

The following is from

www.leginfo.gov

AB 625, as amended, Lieu. Novelty lighters. Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to specify standards for the design of cigarette lighters. Existing law prohibits a person from selling, offering for sale, or distributing a cigarette lighter that does not comply with those standards. A violation of these provisions is an

infraction. This bill would, in addition, prohibit a person, including a manufacturer, distributor, importer, or retailer, from selling, offering for sale, distributing, or offering for promotion an operable novelty lighter. The bill would define a novelty lighter as a mechanical or electrical device, operating on any type of fuel, that is typically used for lighting cigarettes, cigars, or pipes and that (1) is designed to appear to be a toy, (2) has entertaining audio or visual effects, or (3) resembles

in physical form or function articles commonly recognized as appealing

to, or intended for use by, persons under 18 12 years of age. The bill

would exempt from these provisions a device that is (1) manufactured

before January 1, 1980, (2) incapable of being fueled or lacking a means

of combustion, (3) used primarily to ignite fuel for fireplaces or grills,

or (4) printed or decorated with logos, labels, decals, artwork, or heat

shrinkable sleeves. A violation of this prohibition would be an infraction.

A full description of the bill is at:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0601-0650/ab_625_bill_20090415_amended_asm_v98.pdf