[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4701 Introduced in House (IH)]
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114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4701
To encourage States to require the installation of residential carbon
monoxide detectors in homes, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 3, 2016
Ms. Kuster (for herself, Mr. Lance, Mr. Paulsen, Mr. Butterfield, and
Mr. Harper) 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 Memorial
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2016''.
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);
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.
(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 720; 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
720;
(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 2016 through 2020, $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, 2020, 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 2017
through 2021 the amount that is $2,000,000 less than the amount
appropriated for such Office for fiscal year 2016.
(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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