Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 8, 1992 TAG: 9202080308
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG SCHNEIDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
TOY LOBBY PLAYS FOR KEEPS
They made no campaign contributions and never threw a wine-and cheese-reception, but on Friday a group of 11- and 12-year-old lobbyists from Virginia Beach got their bill passed unanimously by the House of Delegates.The high-pressure squad of sixth-graders from Old Donation Center for the Gifted and Talented want the state to create a registry for dangerous toys, and now the idea will go on to the Senate.
The House measure was sponsored by freshman Del. Leo Wardrup, R-Virginia Beach, and it was the first solo bill of his legislative career.
"It's a good, solid piece of consumer legislation," Wardrup said.
"We got Sen. Holland to sponsor the bill in the Senate," said Emily Letts, 11, one of the earnest young lobbyists.
"That's Clarence Holland," 11-year-old Carissa Frasca explained crisply. "There are quite a few Hollands."
Three, to be even more precise; Clarence Holland is a Democrat from Virginia Beach.
The bill is modeled on a law in Washington state. It calls for hospitals to notify the state Health Department of injuries and deaths that can be attributed to a particular dangerous toy. The state then can send out public warnings and notify the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The students got the idea for the bill as part of a classroom project on dangerous toys. They toured a day-care center and a toy store and were appalled, they said, by the dangers they encountered - sharp edges, mouth-sized objects, a menacing toy box with a heavy lid.
A group of five spokeschildren brought the bill to Wardrup last month and delivered follow-up letters to members of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions.
It passed the committee unanimously and sailed through the House on Friday without any negative comment.
More than two dozen sixth-graders from Carolyn Stamm's class at Old Donation stood and were welcomed by the House. The pupils were calm and serious far beyond their years, but few could resist a whispered "Yes!" when House Bill 629 - and they knew it by number - cleared the floor.
"We're not amateurs anymore," said Kyle Massey, 12.
But that doesn't mean any of the group plans to be a professional lobbyist. "When you're a lobbyist," said Carissa Frasca, "sometimes you have to lobby for things you don't believe in."
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY