Paterson signs consumer protection bills

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A classic style of baby crib will start to disappear and more health facilities will provide testing for HIV-AIDS under measures signed into law Friday by Gov. David Paterson.

One new law will ban the generations-old design of drop-side cribs.

The ban in New York comes after several child deaths, said Sen. Charles Fuschillo (foo-SHILL-oh), a Long Island Republican who sponsored the bill. He said more than 9 million of the cribs have been recalled nationwide because of the danger of entrapment and suffocation if the drop-rail malfunctions.

In another bill signed into law, HIV-AIDS testing will be expanded. The new law effective Sept. 1 will make the testing routine at all health care facilities and simplify the patients' informed consent needed to take the test.

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