[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1793 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1793

 To encourage States to require the installation of residential carbon 
          monoxide detectors in homes, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 10, 2013

Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Casey, and Mr. Schumer) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To encourage States to require the installation of residential carbon 
          monoxide detectors in homes, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial 
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2013''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced 
        by burning any fuel. Exposure to unhealthy levels of carbon 
        monoxide can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, a serious 
        health condition that could result in death.
            (2) Unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning from motor 
        vehicles and the abnormal operation of fuel-burning appliances, 
        such as furnaces, water heaters, portable generators, and 
        stoves, in residential homes and other dwelling units kills 
        more than 400 people each year and sends more than 20,000 to 
        hospital emergency rooms for treatment.
            (3) Research shows that purchasing and installing carbon 
        monoxide alarms close to the sleeping areas in residential 
        homes and other dwelling units can help avoid fatalities.
            (4) Congress should promote the purchase and installation 
        of carbon monoxide alarms in residential homes and dwelling 
        units nationwide in order to promote the health and public 
        safety of citizens throughout the Nation.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Carbon monoxide alarm.--The term ``carbon monoxide 
        alarm'' means a device that--
                    (A) detects carbon monoxide; and
                    (B) is intended to alarm at carbon monoxide 
                concentrations below those that could cause a loss of 
                ability to react to the dangers of carbon monoxide 
                exposure.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Consumer 
        Product Safety Commission.
            (3) Compliant carbon monoxide alarm.--The term ``compliant 
        carbon monoxide alarm'' means a carbon monoxide alarm that 
        complies with the most current version of--
                    (A) the American National Standard for Single and 
                Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms (ANSI/UL 2034); 
                and
                    (B) the American National Standard for Gas and 
                Vapor Detectors and Sensors (ANSI/UL 2075).
            (4) Dwelling unit.--The term ``dwelling unit'' means a room 
        or suite of rooms used for human habitation, and includes a 
        single family residence as well as each living unit of a 
        multiple family residence (including apartment buildings) and 
        each living unit in a mixed use building.
            (5) Fire code enforcement officials.--The term ``fire code 
        enforcement officials'' means officials of the fire safety code 
        enforcement agency of a State or local government.
            (6) NFPA 720.--The term ``NFPA 720'' means--
                    (A) the Standard for the Installation of Carbon 
                Monoxide Detection and Warning Equipment issued by the 
                National Fire Protection Association in 2012; and
                    (B) any amended or similar successor standard 
                pertaining to the proper installation of carbon 
                monoxide alarms in dwelling units.

SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING PREVENTION.

    (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations 
authorized under subsection (f), the Commission shall establish a grant 
program to provide assistance to eligible States and local governments 
to carry out the carbon monoxide poisoning prevention activities 
described in subsection (d).
    (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under the program, a 
State or local government shall--
            (1) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Commission that 
        the State or local government has adopted a statute, or the 
        State or local government agency has adopted a rule, 
        regulation, or similar measure with the force and effect of 
        law, requiring compliant carbon monoxide alarms to be installed 
        in dwelling units in accordance with NFPA 720; and
            (2) submit an application to the Commission at such time, 
        in such form, and containing such additional information as the 
        Commission may require, which application may be filed on 
        behalf of the State or local government by the fire code 
        enforcement officials for such State or local government.
    (c) Grant Amount; Priority.--The Commission shall determine the 
amount of the grants awarded under this section, and shall give 
priority to applications from States or local governments that--
            (1) prioritize the installation of compliant carbon 
        monoxide alarms in existing dwelling units--
                    (A) within which a fuel-burning appliance is 
                installed, including a furnace, boiler, water heater, 
                fireplace, or any other apparatus, appliance, or device 
                that burns fuel; or
                    (B) which has an attached garage;
            (2) have developed a strategy to protect vulnerable 
        populations such as children, the elderly, or low-income 
        households; and
            (3) demonstrate greater than average losses of life from 
        carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.
    (d) Use of Funds.--A State receiving a grant under this section may 
use grant funds--
            (1) to purchase and install compliant carbon monoxide 
        alarms in the dwelling units of low-income families or elderly 
        persons, facilities that commonly serve children or the 
        elderly, including childcare facilities, public schools, and 
        senior centers, or student dwelling units owned by public 
        universities;
            (2) to train State or local fire code enforcement officials 
        in the proper enforcement of State or local laws concerning 
        compliant carbon monoxide alarms and the installation of such 
        alarms in accordance with NFPA 720;
            (3) for the development and dissemination of training 
        materials, instructors, and any other costs related to the 
        training sessions authorized by this subsection; and
            (4) to educate the public about the risk associated with 
        carbon monoxide as a poison and the importance of proper carbon 
        monoxide alarm use.
    (e) Limitation on Use of Funds.--
            (1) Administrative costs.--Not more than 10 percent of any 
        grant funds received under this section may be used to cover 
        administrative costs not directly related to training described 
        in subsection (d)(2).
            (2) Public outreach.--Not more than 25 percent of any grant 
        funds received under this section may be used to cover costs of 
        activities described in subsection (d)(4).
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Commission, for each of the fiscal years 2013 through 2017, 
        $2,000,000, which shall remain available until expended to 
        carry out this Act.
            (2) Retention of amounts.--Any amounts appropriated 
        pursuant to this subsection that remain unexpended and 
        unobligated on September 30, 2016, shall be retained by the 
        Commission and credited to the appropriations account that 
        funds the enforcement of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 
        U.S.C. 2051).
    (g) Commission Report.--Not later than 1 year after the last day of 
each fiscal year for which grants are awarded under this section, the 
Commission shall submit to Congress a report that evaluates the 
implementation of the grant program required by this section.
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