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October 19, 2000
(House)
H.R. 2592 - Regulation of Low-Speed Electric Bicycles
(Rep. Rogan (R) California and 17 cosponsors)
The Administration has concerns with H.R. 2592, which would amend the Consumer
Product Safety Act to provide that low-speed electric bicycles are consumer
products. While the Administration supports provisions of the bill that would
transfer jurisdiction over low-speed electric bicycles from the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC),
the legislation is technically flawed because it fails to include specific
provisions permitting CPSC to quickly write safety standards for these vehicles.
If passed by the House, the Administration will work with the Senate to amend
H.R. 2592 to:
- Allow CPSC
to amend the existing bicycle standard quickly and efficiently to minimize
the period during which inadequate safety requirements exist. Recent
amendments to the Consumer Product Safety Act have adopted this more
streamlined approach to rulemaking. Examples include the bicycle helmet and
garage door opener regulations.
- Delete the
bill's preemption provision. CPSC has a statutory preemption provision that
is adequate. Introducing a different preemption provision for a single
product would be unnecessary and confusing.
In addition, the Administration believes that H.R. 2592 should be amended to
bring all low-speed motorized bicycles within the CPSC's jurisdiction, not just
electric bicycles. H.R. 2592 should focus on the low-speed attribute of these
vehicles, not on the energy source that powers them.
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