Home Depot and Lowe's Strongly Oppose AB 2218

The Power Tool Institute, the California Chamber of Commerce and retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe's strongly oppose AB 2218, known as the Table Saw Safety Act, Closets Daily reports. What is the Table Saw Safety Act? Introduced by assembly member Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara), LegiScan outlines the bill's aim to make "active injury mitigation technology" mandatory for table saws sold in the State of California. Reasoning that existing state law already forbids the sale of consumer goods deemed unsafe -- the bill's verbiage mentions toys and infant cribs -- lawmakers believe that table saws not using the latest safety technology available would be in violation of these existing consumer safety rules. Therefore, if passed, AB 2218 specifies that any new table saws sold after January 1, 2015, must be equipped with the safety technology. What is "active injury mitigation technology?" The SawStop safety system, invented by Stephen Gass, incorporates technology sensing the difference between human flesh and a piece of wood. As outlined on the SawStop website, the brake-stop technology capitalizes on the body's "relatively large inherent electrical capacitance and conductivity," which triggers the mechanism. The safety trigger stops blade action within 1/200th of a second, which saves a limb from possible amputation. The consumer activates a bypass mode when cutting very green wood or conductive materials such as aluminum. If the injury mitigation technology does engage, it may be necessary to repair or replace the blade due to the damage done by the brake-stop. Why do manufacturers and retailers oppose California's proposed Table Saw Safety Act? Manufacturers consider Williams' bill to create a technological monopoly for Gass' technology. While lawmakers claim that there is no mention of a specific brand of "active injury mitigation technology" to use when complying with AB 2218, Gass does hold the patents to the equipment. Manufacturers also worry about the costs the technology adds to the table saws. Saw Stop's contractor saw starts at $1,599; Lowe's in Southern California sells contractor saws starting at $149. How do lawmakers respond? As noted by the Los Angeles Times, Williams encourages other table saw manufacturers to develop "their own injury-avoidance devices," as long as they comply fully with the Table Saw Safety Act. Moreover, Gass offers to license SawStop safety system technology to competing saw makers for a price. Was there a financial incentive to get this law on the books in California? Closets Daily points to Gass' efforts via a hired lobbyist to target California lawmakers. Donating about $46,500 to members of both parties, Williams was the recipient of a $2,500 donation. There is speculation that success of the law in California will make it fiscally unwise to manufacture one line of saws for sale in California and other lines for sale in other states. Does the bill resonate with lawmakers? AB 2218 passed the California assembly with 64 lawmakers voting in favor of the Table Saw Safety Act and only four voting against it. The bill is now headed for a full Senate vote in August. Sylvia Cochran is a Los Angeles area resident with a firm finger on the pulse of California politics. Talk radio junkie, community volunteer and politically independent, she scrutinizes the good and the bad from both sides of the political aisle. Source: Yahoo