Mattress regs in limbo?
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, November 24, 2003
Sacramento, Calif. — The mattress flammability issue took an unexpected turn last week when new California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order suspending all pending regulatory actions for up to 180 days.
Officials of the International Sleep Products Assn. said the order could affect the California Bureau of Home Furnishings' plans to begin enforcing its pending mattress flammability standards on Jan. 1, 2005.
In issuing his order, Schwarzenegger said, "The increased costs associated with California's regulatory environment have diminished competitiveness in the national and global marketplaces for the state's goods and services."
The order authorizes the state's finance director to make exceptions to the suspension for emergencies or for other situations related to health and safety. ISPA said the state's pending mattress flammability rules might be exempted from the regulatory freeze because they do address health and safety issues.
