[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 481 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 481
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
February 13, 2019
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Hoeven) 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 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 improper operation of fuel-burning appliances,
such as furnaces, water heaters, portable generators, and
stoves, annually kills more than 400 individuals and sends
approximately 15,000 individuals to hospital emergency rooms
for treatment.
(3) Research shows that 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 installation of carbon monoxide alarms in
residential homes and dwelling units across the United States 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 sound an alarm at a carbon
monoxide concentration below a concentration that could
cause a loss of the 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 Standard for Single and Multiple Station
Carbon Monoxide Alarms of the American National
Standards Institute and UL (ANSI/UL 2034), or any
successor standard; and
(B) the Standard for Gas and Vapor Detectors and
Sensors of the American National Standards Institute
and UL (ANSI/UL 2075), or any successor standard.
(4) Dwelling unit.--The term ``dwelling unit''--
(A) means a room or suite of rooms used for human
habitation; and
(B) includes--
(i) a single family residence;
(ii) each living unit of a multiple family
residence, including an apartment building; and
(iii) 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 or a tribal
organization.
(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
relating to the proper installation of carbon monoxide
alarms in dwelling units.
(7) State.--The term ``State''--
(A) has the meaning given the term in section 3(a)
of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a));
and
(B) includes--
(i) the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands; and
(ii) any political subdivision of a State.
(8) Tribal organization.--The term ``tribal organization''
has the meaning given the term in section 4(l) of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304(l)).
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 States and tribal organizations that
are eligible under subsection (b) to carry out the carbon monoxide
poisoning prevention activities described in subsection (e).
(b) Eligibility.--For the purposes of this section, an eligible
State or tribal organization is any State or tribal organization that--
(1) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Commission that
the State or tribal organization has adopted a statute or a
rule, regulation, or similar measure that--
(A) has the force and effect of law; and
(B) requires compliant carbon monoxide alarms to be
installed in dwelling units in accordance with NFPA
720; and
(2) submits an application--
(A) to the Commission at such time, in such form,
and containing such additional information as the
Commission may require; and
(B) that may be filed on behalf of the State or
tribal organization by the fire safety code enforcement
agency of that State or tribal organization.
(c) Grant Amount.--The Commission shall determine the amount of
each grant awarded under this section.
(d) Selection of Grant Recipients.--In selecting eligible States
and tribal organizations for the award of grants under this section,
the Commission shall give favorable consideration to an eligible State
or tribal organization that--
(1) requires the installation of a compliant carbon
monoxide alarm in a new or existing educational facility,
childcare facility, health care facility, adult dependent care
facility, government building, restaurant, theater, lodging
establishment, or dwelling unit--
(A) within which a fuel-burning appliance,
including a furnace, boiler, water heater, fireplace,
or any other apparatus, appliance, or device that burns
fuel, is installed; or
(B) that has an attached garage; and
(2) has developed a strategy to protect vulnerable
populations, such as children, the elderly, or low-income
households, from exposure to unhealthy levels of carbon
monoxide.
(e) Use of Grant Funds.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible
State or tribal organization to which a grant is awarded under
this section may use the grant--
(A) to purchase and install compliant carbon
monoxide alarms in the dwelling units of low-income
families or elderly individuals, 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, tribal organization, or local
fire code enforcement officials in the proper
enforcement of State, tribal, or local laws regarding
compliant carbon monoxide alarms and the installation
of those alarms in accordance with NFPA 720;
(C) for the development and dissemination of
training materials, instructors, and any other costs
relating to the training sessions authorized under this
subsection; or
(D) to educate the public about--
(i) the risk associated with carbon
monoxide as a poison; and
(ii) the importance of proper carbon
monoxide alarm use.
(2) Limitations.--
(A) Administrative costs.--An eligible State or
tribal organization to which a grant is awarded under
this section may use not more than 5 percent of the
grant amount to cover administrative costs that are not
directly related to training described in paragraph
(1)(B).
(B) Public outreach.--An eligible State or tribal
organization to which a grant is awarded under this
section may use not more than 25 percent of the grant
amount to cover the 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
fiscal years 2019 through 2023, $2,000,000 to carry out this
Act, which shall remain available until expended.
(2) Limitation on administrative expenses.--In a fiscal
year, not more than 10 percent of the amounts appropriated or
otherwise made available to carry out this Act may be used for
administrative expenses.
(3) Retention of amounts.--Any amounts appropriated under
this subsection that remain unexpended and unobligated on
September 30, 2023, 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
et seq.).
(g) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the last day of each
fiscal year in which grants are awarded under this section, the
Commission shall submit to Congress a report that evaluates the
implementation of the grant program required under this section.
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