GLASS Report: Legislative Action Alert: SB607: Approved by Governor, Act No. 121 (UPDATED 12/18/13 BELOW IN RED)

SB607: An Act providing standards for carbon monoxide alarms; and imposing penalties.  Re-introduction of Senate Bill 920 from the 2011-12 session, which establishes the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standards Act.

Primary Sponsor:  Senator Patrick Browne , Senate District 16, serving Lehigh (part), Monroe (part) and Northampton (part) Counties.

Read the Introduction Memo from February here…

Access this Bill’s Text, Sponsors and additional information here…. 

Update 12/11/2013: 


June 26, 2013: Third consideration and final passage In Senate, (48-1)
November 21, 2013: Third consideration and final passage In House, (154-43)
December 3, 2013: In the Senate
December 3, 2013: Referred to "Rules and Executive Nominations"
December 3, 2013: Re-reported on concurrence from   "Rules and Executive Nominations"
December 4, 2013: Senate concurred on House amendments (47-1)
December 4, 2013: Signed in Senate
December 9, 2013: Signed in House
December 10, 2013: Presented to Governor 
December 18, 2013: Approved by Governor,
Act No. 121 

Memo below:

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	February 6, 2013 09:31 AM
From:	Senator Patrick Browne
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Carbon Monoxide Alarms

In the near future, I plan to re-introduce Senate Bill 920 from the 2011-12 session, which establishes the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standards Act. As you may know, as of January 1, 2010, the Pennsylvania Building Code requires all newly constructed homes and certain existing homes that have fossil fuel burning heaters or appliances and or an attached garage to install a carbon monoxide detector.  These requirements are similar to code requirements for smoke detectors. For residential buildings, the legislation requires the seller to disclose information regarding the installation of carbon monoxide detectors on the property disclosure statement.  For multifamily dwellings, the legislation requires each apartment in a multifamily dwelling that has a fossil fuel-burning heater/appliance, fireplace, or an attached garage must have an operational, centrally located and approved carbon monoxide alarm installed within one year of the effective date of the act. For rental properties, the legislation requires the owner of a multifamily dwelling having a fossil fuel-burning heater or appliance, fireplace or an attached garage used for rental purposes and required to be equipped with one or more approved carbon monoxide alarms shall install an operational, centrally located and approved carbon monoxide alarm in the vicinity of the bedrooms and the fossil fuel-burning heater or fireplace; replace any approved carbon monoxide alarms that have been stolen, removed, found missing or rendered inoperable prior to new occupancy in the rental property; and ensure that batteries in each  approved carbon monoxide alarm are in operating condition at the time the new occupant takes residence. The legislation also provides that willful failure to install or maintain in operating condition any approved carbon monoxide alarm required by the act is a summary offense punishable by a fine of up to $50. Exposure to Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a major problem in the Commonwealth.  According to a 2007 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pennsylvania leads the nation in fatalities as a result of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poison deaths in the nation.  It is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that kills about 500 people and sends more than 20,000 to the emergency room annually. Most carbon monoxide-related fatalities and poisonings can be prevented though the use of a carbon monoxide alarm, which is the only way to detect this silent killer. Cosponsor of Senate Bill 920 of the 2011-12 session included Senators SOLOBAY, FONTANA, STACK, COSTA, YUDICHAK, FARNESE, BLAKE and BREWSTER.