H.R. 4340: Tyler’s Law

Summary of Tyler’s Law

Tyler’s Law establishes requirements for hospitals, medical examiner offices, and coroner offices to report certain incidents involving children's injuries or deaths related to specific products.

Reporting Requirements for Hospitals

Under Tyler’s Law:

• Hospitals must notify the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in writing when:
• A child dies or is seriously injured.
• The incident occurs while the hospital provides a service.
• The injury or death is believed to be linked to a children’s product or a durable infant or toddler product.
• The notice must include:
• The date, city, and state of the incident.
• Details about the product involved, including product code.
• Information about the child, such as age, gender, and any diagnoses.
• The role of the hospital in treating the child.
• Details on whether alcohol, controlled substances, or fire were involved.
• Any related reports prepared by the hospital.
• This notice must be submitted within 7 days of the hospital identifying the association between the incident and the product.

Reporting Requirements for Medical Examiners and Coroners

Similarly, medical examiner and coroner offices are required to report to the CPSC when:

• A child dies and the death is determined to be associated with a children’s product or a durable infant or toddler product.

The required notice includes:

• The date, city, and state of the incident.
• Details about any medical treatment given.
• The cause of death.
• Information about the product involved.
• Information about the child, including demographic details.
• Details regarding any factors involving alcohol or controlled substances.
• Any reports prepared by the medical examiner or coroner.

These reports must also be submitted within 7 days of making the determination about the product’s involvement.

Enforcement and Penalties

If a medical examiner or coroner's office does not comply with the reporting requirement, it may lose eligibility for Medical Examiner Coroner Office Accreditation grants for the following fiscal year.

Definitions

The bill defines specific terms included in the reporting requirements:

• Child: An individual under the age of 18.
• Children's Product: Defined per the Consumer Product Safety Act.
• Durable Infant or Toddler Product: Defined per the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.
• Hospital: Defined per the Social Security Act.
• Product Code: Refers to the code used in product reporting systems of the CPSC.

Applicability

The reporting requirements will apply to incidents occurring 180 days after the enactment of Tyler's Law.

Relevant Companies

None found.