S 257: Authorizes a study on lithium-ion battery fires and prevention to review the severity of lithium-ion battery fires, including what specific components of the battery causes severe fires; examine the effectiveness of lithium fireproof blankets on such fires; examine the current measures of safety implemented by fire departments across New York in relation to lithium-ion battery fires; requires a report to the governor and the legislature; makes related provisions.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 257 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance AN ACT in relation to authorizing a study on lithium-ion battery fires and prevention The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The office of fire prevention and control is hereby author- 2 ized to conduct a study on lithium-ion battery fires and prevention in 3 conjunction with the New York state energy research and development 4 authority and the New York city fire department. Such study shall 5 include but not be limited to: 6 (a) review the severity of lithium-ion battery fires, including what 7 specific components of the battery causes severe fires; 8 (b) examine the effectiveness of lithium fireproof blankets on such 9 fires; 10 (c) examine the current measures of safety implemented by fire depart- 11 ments across New York in relation to lithium-ion battery fires; 12 (d) examine measures other fire departments in different states and 13 countries have implemented to increase safety in relation to lithium-ion 14 battery fires; 15 (e) examine and make recommendations on measures the state of New York 16 may take in order to increase safety related to lithium-ion battery 17 fires; 18 (f) examine and make recommendations for establishing training 19 requirements for proper handling of lithium-ion battery fires; 20 (g) examine and make recommendations to update current building codes 21 for charging devices that may contain lithium-ion batteries; 22 (h) develop a public awareness and education program in relation to 23 lithium-ion battery fires including but not limited to: storage, 24 disposal, and lithium-ion battery fire suppression; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01113-01-5 
 S. 257 2 1 (i) collect data on the number of deaths and injuries in relation to 2 lithium-ion battery fires; 3 (j) collect data on property damage caused by lithium-ion battery 4 fires; and 5 (k) input from stakeholders in the lithium-ion battery industry. 6 § 2. No later than one year after the effective date of this act, the 7 office of fire prevention and control shall report its findings to the 8 governor and the legislature, as described under section one of this 9 act. 10 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.