Bath seats, like most consumer products, are subject to voluntary standards.

Many government officials and safety experts do not think that voluntary standards are sufficient.

"The few bad apples there are don't care about voluntary standards."

They don't like the idea of even voluntary standards.

New York is not the first jurisdiction to propose or adopt such voluntary standards.

The 15 companies that agreed to the voluntary standards have until 2009 to put safer models on the road.

Other safety advocates said the industry had a poor record of complying with its own voluntary standards.

Other witnesses opposed turning a voluntary standard into a legal one.

"You can do a voluntary standards approach at the same time you have an enforcement program," he said.

Why is the government so keen on seeking voluntary standards in the first place?