New Jersey A 4705: Prohibits sale of crayon and chalk products containing lead.

Bill Text

A4705 

ASSEMBLY, No. 4705 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

INTRODUCED MARCH 16, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Morales

SYNOPSIS

���� Prohibits sale of crayon and chalk products 
containing lead. 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As introduced.

�� 

An Act concerning certain children�s products containing lead 
and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes and Title 56 of 
the Revised Statutes.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� As used in this 
section:

���� �Chalk product� means a 
product made from calcium carbonate or calcium sulfate, or any other product 
advertised by the manufacturer as chalk, which is designed or intended 
primarily for use by a child or educator to draw, color, or write on 
blackboards or concrete surfaces. 

���� �Crayon product� means a 
product made from pigmented wax, or any other product advertised by the 
manufacturer as a crayon, which is designed or intended primarily for use by a 
child to draw, color, or write on paper products.

���� �Director� means the Director 
of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. 

���� b.��� (1)� No person may sell, 
offer for sale, distribute, or manufacture, a chalk product or crayon product 
that is intended for use by a child under the age of six and is made with or 
contains lead.� 

���� (2)� A person who knowingly 
violates the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of an unlawful 
practice pursuant to P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).

���� c.���� (1)� A manufacturer or 
distributor shall issue an immediate recall for any chalk product or crayon 
product that is intended for use by a child under the age of six if the 
manufacturer, distributor, or importer has reason to believe that the chalk 
product or crayon product is made with or contains lead.

���� (2)�� A violation of this 
subsection shall constitute a crime of the fourth degree for a first offense, a 
crime of the third degree for a second offense, and a crime of the second 
degree for a third or subsequent offense.

���� d.� (1)� Within 48 hours of 
receiving notice from the director, or from a manufacturer or distributor, that 
a chalk product or crayon product for use by a child under the age of six has 
been recalled because it is made with or contains lead, the retailer shall 
remove the product from display and make it unavailable for purchase. 

���� (2)�� Within 14 business days 
of receiving notice from the director, or from a manufacturer or distributor, 
that a chalk product or crayon product intended for use by a child under the 
age of six has been recalled because it is made with or contains lead, the retailer 
shall return all inventory of that product to the manufacturer or distributor 
from which it was obtained, at the expense of the manufacturer or distributor.

���� (3)�� A violation of paragraph 
(1) or (2) of this subsection shall constitute an unlawful practice pursuant to 
P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).

���� 2.� a.� As used in this 
section:

���� �Chalk product� means a 
product made from calcium carbonate or calcium sulfate, or any other product 
advertised by the manufacturer as chalk, which is designed or intended 
primarily for use by a child or educator to draw, color, or write on 
blackboards or concrete surfaces. 

���� �Crayon product� means a 
product made from pigmented wax, or any other product advertised by the 
manufacturer as a crayon, which is designed or intended primarily for use by a 
child to color, draw, or write on paper products.

���� �Director� means the Director 
of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. 

���� b.��� The director shall issue 
an immediate recall for any chalk product or crayon product that is intended 
for use by a child under the age of six if the director discovers the product 
is made with or contains lead. 

���� c.���� (1)� Within 60 business 
days of receiving, from a retailer, a chalk product or crayon product intended 
for use by a child under the age of six that has been recalled because it is 
made with or contains lead, the manufacturer or distributor shall destroy the 
product in such a way that renders it useless, and shall dispose of the 
remnants in a manner and location designed to prevent the public from accessing 
the products.

���� (2)�� A violation of this 
subsection shall constitute a crime of the fourth degree for a first offense, a 
crime of the third degree for a second offense, and a crime of the second 
degree for a third or subsequent offense.

���� 3.��� This act shall take 
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill would prohibit the 
sale, distribution, or manufacture of a chalk product or crayon product that is 
intended for use by a child under the age of six and is made with or contains 
lead.

���� The Directo