Brown Signs Butler's Anti-BPA Bill

A bill intended to protect the health of children and authored by Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, D-Marina del Rey, has been signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown.

Though Butler currently represents Redondo Beach as part of the 53rd Assembly District, she's announced her intentions to run for re-election in the new 50th Assembly District. Redondo Beach is part of the new 66th District.

The Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act prohibits the toxic chemical Bisphenol-A in baby products. More specifically, baby bottles and sippy cups that have a BPA level of more than 0.1 parts per billion are now banned from being manufactured, sold and distributed in California. Ten other states, as well as China and the European Union, have similar prohibitions.

In an interview with Santa Monica Patch last week, Butler noted the rise in levels of autism, cancer and other disease, saying, "I can't imagine it doesn't have to do with the amount of plastics in our life and this cocktail of chemicals. A lot of these chemicals we don't know much about, especially in conjunction with other chemicals."

BPA, an artificial hormone and endocrine disruptor, seeps out of containers and enters food and drinks. In children, BPAs have "the impact of estrogen," Butler said.

Butler wasn't sure whether Brown would sign the Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act.

"It's hard to know [if Brown will sign] the bill," Butler said last week. "He may or may not."

Environmental activists cheered Brown's signing of the bill.

“Sheer moxie and persistence by our champions in Sacramento and their supporters across the state made this day possible," the Environmental Working Group's California director, Renee Sharp, said in an interview. "This time, care for the health and well-being of California's children trumped the money and influence of the chemical lobby.”

Other supporters include the California Nurses Association; the California Medical Association; American Academy of Pediatrics of California; the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; and Consumer Reports' advocacy division, the Consumers Union.