 |
|
7/10/2014
|
Sales ban lifted on certain reading glasses
|
STATE HOUSE – Rhode Islanders will no longer have to cross state lines to purchase stronger reading glasses now that legislation approved by the General Assembly has been signed into law by the governor
The new law, based on House bill 2014-H 7676A and Senate bill 2014-S 2925B, repeals a prohibition on the production and sales of certain “stronger” types of reading glasses in the state.
Until now, state law allowed the sale of reading magnifying glasses by non-licensed professionals, but it prohibited the sale of bifocal design or single vision lenses of greater than a 2.5 magnification. The new law strikes that restriction, allowing the production and sales of reading glasses with a magnification of up to 3.25.
In addition to forcing consumers to shop outside the state for higher magnification glasses, the sponsors of the bills said existing law was keeping at least one Rhode Island firm – Foster Grant – from producing higher magnification reading glasses available for sale in the state. Foster Grant is a subsidiary of FGX International, with international corporate headquarters located at 500 Washington Highway, Smithfield.
The bills were sponsored by Sen. Stephen R. Archambault (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Johnston) and Rep. Thomas Winfield (D-Dist. 53, Smithfield, Glocester).
For more information, contact:
Randall T. Szyba, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2457
|
|