[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1618 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1618

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 7, 2019

  Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire (for herself and Mr. Carter of Georgia) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
    Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on House 
   Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 Carbon 
Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) 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, kills more than 400 people each year and sends more 
        than 15,000 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.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 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 United States.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Carbon monoxide alarm.--The term ``carbon monoxide 
        alarm'' means a device or system 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); 
                or
                    (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 72.--The term ``NFPA 72'' means--
                    (A) the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code 
                issued in 2019 by the National Fire Protection 
                Association; and
                    (B) any amended or similar successor standard 
                pertaining to the proper installation of carbon 
                monoxide alarms in dwelling units.
            (7) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 3 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 
        2052) and includes the Northern Mariana Islands and any 
        political subdivision of a State.

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 to carry out the 
carbon monoxide poisoning prevention activities described in subsection 
(e).
    (b) Eligibility.--For purposes of this section, an eligible State 
is any State that--
            (1) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Commission that 
        the State has adopted a statute or 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 72; and
            (2) submits 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 by the fire code enforcement officials for 
        such State.
    (c) Grant Amount.--The Commission shall determine the amount of the 
grants awarded under this section.
    (d) Selection of Grant Recipients.--In selecting eligible States 
for the award of grants under this section, the Commission shall give 
favorable consideration to an eligible State that--
            (1) requires the installation of compliant carbon monoxide 
        alarms in new or existing educational facilities, childcare 
        facilities, health care facilities, adult dependent care 
        facilities, government buildings, restaurants, theaters, 
        lodging establishments, or 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; and
            (2) has developed a strategy to protect vulnerable 
        populations such as children, the elderly, or low-income 
        households.
    (e) Use of Grant Funds.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible State receiving a grant under 
        this section may use such grant--
                    (A) 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;
                    (B) 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 
                72;
                    (C) for the development and dissemination of 
                training materials, instructors, and any other costs 
                related to the training sessions authorized by this 
                subsection; and
                    (D) to educate the public about the risk associated 
                with carbon monoxide as a poison and the importance of 
                proper carbon monoxide alarm use.
            (2) Limitations.--
                    (A) Administrative costs.--Not more than 10 percent 
                of any grant amount received under this section may be 
                used to cover administrative costs not directly related 
                to training described in paragraph (1)(B).
                    (B) Public outreach.--Not more than 25 percent of 
                any grant amount received under this section may be 
                used to cover costs of activities described in 
                paragraph (1)(D).
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), there is 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Commission, for each of 
        the fiscal years 2020 through 2024, $2,000,000, which shall 
        remain available until expended to carry out this Act.
            (2) Limitation on administrative expenses.--Not more than 
        10 percent of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
        available to carry out this section may be used for 
        administrative expenses.
            (3) Retention of amounts.--Any amounts appropriated 
        pursuant to this subsection that remain unexpended and 
        unobligated on September 30, 2024, 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).
            (4) Offset.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Government Publishing Office for each of fiscal years 2020 
        through 2024 the amount that is $2,000,000 less than the amount 
        appropriated for such Office for fiscal year 2017.
    (g) 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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