Prohibits the sale or promotional distribution of machetes to minors; defines machete as a large heavy knife with a broad blade, used primarily for cutting brush or vegetation.
Summary
This bill amends New York’s General Business Law to add machetes to the list of items that may not be sold or given away in retail or wholesale promotions to anyone under 18 years old. The measure also defines “machete” as a large heavy knife with a broad blade used primarily for cutting brush or vegetation, and it keeps the existing restrictions on utility knives, box cutters, and box cart cutters in the same section of law.
The bill includes an exception for temporary transfer of a machete to a minor by an employer when the tool is kept on the employer’s premises and used only within the course and scope of employment. It also preserves local authority for counties, cities, towns, and villages to adopt additional, non-conflicting rules. Violations would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500, and the act would take effect immediately.
Impact
The bill would expand an existing consumer protection and youth-access restriction in the General Business Law by expressly covering machetes alongside utility knives and box cutters. It would create a statewide prohibition on selling or promoting machetes to minors, while leaving room for local governments to impose stricter regulations and for limited workplace use by minors under employer supervision. The practical effect is to impose a new compliance obligation on retailers and promotional distributors and to provide a civil enforcement mechanism for violations.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears precautionary and safety-oriented. The proposal is framed as a straightforward extension of existing restrictions on sharp tools accessible to minors, suggesting a generally protective legislative intent rather than a controversial policy shift. No formal opposition, amendments, or recorded vote history is available in the supplied context.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is whether machetes should be treated like utility knives and box cutters for purposes of youth sales restrictions, since machetes can be used as tools but are also capable of causing serious injury. Another possible issue is the scope of the definition, which could affect retailers, hardware stores, garden suppliers, and promotional distributors that sell or give away outdoor cutting tools. The bill’s employer exception may also raise questions about how to verify lawful temporary workplace transfer to minors, though no specific objections are documented in the provided materials.
Same As
Prohibits the sale or promotional distribution of machetes to minors; defines machete as a large heavy knife with a broad blade, used primarily for cutting brush or vegetation.
Prohibits the sale or promotional distribution of machetes to minors; defines machete as a large heavy knife with a broad blade, used primarily for cutting brush or vegetation.