A.
This Legislature hereby finds and determines that dry cleaners use a wide variety of chemicals and processes to clean clothing and other delicate household fabrics. This Legislature further finds and determines that, recently, some dry cleaners have started to use the term "organic" to describe the solvents or methods used in providing their services. This practice is misleading. This Legislature finds that the term "organic" has two separate usages. The first definition of "organic" is commonly understood by the public as natural substances derived from plants or animals using no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. The second definition is technical, defining any chemical compound containing carbon molecules as being organic in nature. This Legislature determines that some dry-cleaning businesses are utilizing the term "organic" as a way of "greenwashing" their services to make them appear to be free of harmful chemicals, environmentally friendly, or using naturally derived products; in fact, they are merely using carbon-based chemicals. This Legislature also finds that perchloroethylene, one of the most harmful chemicals used by dry cleaners and commonly known as "perc," contains carbon molecules. As a result, it is being marketed as "organic." This Legislature further finds that, to ensure fairness in advertising and to protect the public from harm, dry cleaners should be prohibited from using the term "organic" until appropriate regulations on its usage are established.
B.
Therefore, the purpose of this article is to prohibit the use of the term "organic" by dry cleaners in Suffolk County until it is properly regulated at the federal level.