Our successes in the 2009 legislative session included:

· Working with Assemblywoman Ginny Fields to introduce a strong bill that would eliminate novelty lighter sales in New York and having companion legislation introduced in the Senate by Senator Darrel Aubertine (A.6875-B/S.3380).

· Moving the legislation through two Assembly committees, with unanimous votes in both committees.

· Getting two dozen Assembly members from all parts of New York State as sponsors on the bill.

· Gaining the support of the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

· Building a coalition of nearly 20 fire safety, consumer protection and medical organizations

Unfortunately, the turmoil in the New York State Senate coupled with apparent opposition from lobbyists of businesses that profit from the sale of novelty lighters stood in our way of enacting the ban.

We are optimistic that we will become the tenth state to ban the sale of novelty lighter in 2010.

Plans for this session include:

· Raising public awareness for the issue through news conferences and submitting letters to the editors to local newspapers across the state;

· Enlisting more coalition partners; and

· Lobbying legislators and staff members on the importance of the legislation.

This is where your help is needed. Your organization's involvement will be important to our success in 2010. Please contact us to let us know what your organization can do to help with public outreach or lobbying, or if you have any questions or concerns.

Also, feel free to forward our contact information to other organizations that might be interested in joining the coalition. (A coalition sign-on form is enclosed.) Expanding the coalition will be a key to our success!

Thanks again for your support. Let’s make this the year New York bans the sale of novelty lighters.