Version	Word Count	Changes From Previous Version	Percent Change
Introduced in House	2,172	n/a	n/a
Reported in House	1,765	107	74%
Engrossed in House	1,565	9	14%
Referred in Senate	1,531	5 Show Changes Hide Changes	6%

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HR 1796 EHRFSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

111th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

2d SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 1796CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

AN ACTCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to require residential carbon monoxide detectors to meet the applicable ANSI/UL standard by treating that standard as a consumer product safety rule, to encourage States to require the installation of such detectors in homes, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act, the following definitions apply:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The term ‘approved carbon monoxide alarm’ means a carbon monoxide alarm that complies with the standards published, incorporated, or amended by the Commission with respect to such alarms pursuant to this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The term ‘carbon monoxide alarm’ means a device that detects carbon monoxide and sounds a distinctive audible alert before concentrations of carbon monoxide reach levels that would cause symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The term ‘Commission’ means the Consumer Product Safety Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) 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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The term ‘fire code enforcement officials’ means officials of the fire safety code enforcement agency of a State or local government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The term ‘NFPA 720’ means the Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide Warning Equipment in Dwelling Units issued by the National Fire Protection Association in 2008, and any amended or similar successor standard pertaining to the proper installation of carbon monoxide alarms in dwelling units.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. ADOPTION OF CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY RULES.

(a) Mandatory Standards- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall publish in the Federal Register as mandatory consumer product safety standards the American National Standard for Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms (ANSI/UL 2034) and the American National Standard for Gas and Vapor Detectors and Sensors (ANSI/UL 2075). Such mandatory consumer product safety standards shall take effect 180 days after they are published.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Revision of Standards- Beginning 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, if either standard described in subsection (a) is revised through the applicable consensus standards development process, Underwriters Laboratories shall notify the Commission of the revision and the revision shall be incorporated in the consumer product safety rule unless, within 60 days of such notice, the Commission determines that such revision does not carry out the purposes of this Act and publishes the basis for such a determination in the Federal Register.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Rulemaking- Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Commission may, at any time subsequent to publication of the consumer product safety standards required by subsection (a), initiate a rulemaking in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to amend either standard to include any provision that the Commission determines is reasonably necessary to ensure the safe and effective operation of carbon monoxide alarms.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Treatment of Standards for Purposes of Enforcement- For purposes of enforcement under the Consumer Product Safety Act, the standards published by the Commission pursuant to subsection (a), including any revision to such standards pursuant to subsection (b) or (c), shall be consumer product safety rules as defined in section 3(a)(6) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(6)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall complete a study to evaluate whether requiring a language or languages in addition to English would improve the effectiveness of the label required of manufacturers of portable generators by the Commission under part 1407 of title 16, Code of Federal Regulations, to warn consumers of carbon monoxide hazards.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING PREVENTION.

(a) In General- Subject to the availability of appropriations authorized by 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 in subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Eligibility- To be eligible for a grant under the program, a State or local government shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Commission that a State or local government has adopted a statute, or a State or local government agency has adopted a rule, regulation, or similar measure with the force and effect of law, requiring approved carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in accordance with NFPA 720 in dwelling units; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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 any qualified State or local government by the fire code enforcement officials for such State or local government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) require approved carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in each existing dwelling unit--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) which has an attached garage;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) propose to serve vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, or low-income households; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) demonstrate greater than average losses of life from carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Use of Funds- A State receiving a grant under this section may use grant funds--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to purchase and install approved 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;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to train State or local fire code enforcement officials in the proper enforcement of State or local laws concerning approved carbon monoxide alarms and the installation of such alarms in accordance with NFPA 720;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) for the development and dissemination of training materials, instructors, and any other costs related to the training sessions authorized by this subsection; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) to educate the public about the risk associated with carbon monoxide as a poison and the importance of proper carbon monoxide alarm use.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Limitation on Use of Funds-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS- No more than 10 percent of any grant funds may be used to cover administrative costs not directly related to training described in paragraph (2) of subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) PUBLIC OUTREACH- No more than 25 percent of any grant may be used to cover costs of activities described in paragraph (4) of subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015 to carry out this Act, such sums to remain available until expended. Any amounts appropriated pursuant to this paragraph that remain unexpended and unobligated at the end of fiscal year 2015 shall be retained by the Commission and credited to the appropriations account that funds enforcement of the Consumer Product Safety Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Commission Report- Not later than 1 year after the last day of each fiscal year for which grants are made under this section, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report evaluating the implementation of the grant program authorized by this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Passed the House of Representatives July 28, 2010.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Attest:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Clerk.

111th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 1796

AN ACT

To amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to require residential carbon monoxide detectors to meet the applicable ANSI/UL standard by treating that standard as a consumer product safety rule, to encourage States to require the installation of such detectors in homes, and for other purposes LORRAINE C. MILLER, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Clerk.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink