SJ0064 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0064 LRB093 21291 KEF 47497 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Yo-Yo Waterballs are inexpensive, easily accessible toys that pose a strangulation hazard and threaten to the health of children; and

WHEREAS, Yo-Yo Waterballs are banned in France, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Australia, Brazil, and Canada; and Germany and New Zealand have issued warnings concerning Yo-Yo Waterballs; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Consumer Protection Board has issued two warnings calling Yo-Yo Water Balls serious hazards to kids and the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation calls Yo-Yo Waterballs a great risk to children; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported that Yo-Yo Waterballs pose a potential risk of strangulation; and

WHEREAS, Consumer Reports rated Yo-Yo Waterballs as "not acceptable" in the December 2003 issue; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that as of December 5, 2003, Yo-Yo Waterballs were responsible for 262 reported health incidents, 193 of which were coded as causing "Suffocation or Strangulation"; of those 193 incidents, 52 resulted in serious breathing difficulties that rendered the child unconscious and lifeless after suffering from a lack of oxygen or broken blood vessels; and

WHEREAS, World Against Toys Causing Harm labeled Yo-Yo Waterballs as one of the "10 Worst Toys" of 2003; and

WHEREAS, A July 2, 2003 petition from New York's Empire State Consumer Association reported that the fluid inside the balls is toxic and flammable; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that 24 children reported allergic reactions to the fluid and it caused some to have trouble breathing; and

WHEREAS, In spite of evidence concerning the danger to children caused by Yo-Yo Waterballs, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has refused repeated attempts towards banning or recalling these dangerous toys; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we recognize the serious threat of Yo-Yo Waterballs to our children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban the sale of Yo-Yo Waterballs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of the resolution be sent to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and each member of the Illinois congressional delegation.