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PRINTER'S NO. 1270
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1209
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY GUENST, SANCHEZ, BURGOS, HANBIDGE, KULIK,
D. WILLIAMS, SCHLOSSBERG, HILL-EVANS, KIRKLAND, NEILSON,
CIRESI, A. DAVIS, FREEMAN, DEASY, McCLINTON, SIMS, KINSEY,
KRUEGER, FITZGERALD AND N. NELSON, APRIL 16, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 16, 2021
AN ACT
Requiring carbon monoxide alarms in school buildings.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the School
Buildings Carbon Monoxide Alarm Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Carbon monoxide alarm." A device to detect and sound an
alarm in the presence of carbon monoxide that meets all of the
following:
(1) Bears the label of a nationally recognized standard
testing laboratory indicating that the device is appropriate
for its intended use.
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(2) Is installed and maintained in accordance with this
act.
(3) Is tested, at least monthly, in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions.
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Fossil fuel." Coal, kerosene, oil, fuel gases or other
petroleum or hydrocarbon products that emit carbon monoxide as a
byproduct of combustion.
"Nonpublic school." Any school, other than a public school,
in which a resident of this Commonwealth may legally fulfill the
compulsory school attendance requirements of the act of March
10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of
1949, and which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).
Section 3. Installation of carbon monoxide alarms.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than January 1, 2022, all public
and nonpublic elementary and secondary school buildings that
contain a fossil-fuel burning furnace, boiler or water heater
shall be required to install carbon monoxide alarms in
accordance with the Standard for the Installation of Carbon
Monoxide (CO) Detection and Warning Equipment (NFPA 720) of the
National Fire Protection Association, and applicable regulations
adopted by the department under subsection (b). Combination
smoke and carbon monoxide alarms shall be permitted.
(b) Regulations.--The department shall adopt regulations in
consultation with the State Fire Commissioner and State and
local building code authorities to incorporate the requirements
specified in this act. These regulations shall include the
appropriate number, type and placement of carbon monoxide alarms
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in school buildings and shall be completed not later than six
months after the effective date of this section.
(c) Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to a
public or nonpublic school if the department determines that no
potential carbon monoxide hazard exists for the school building.
(d) Funding.--In addition to any State funds specifically
appropriated by the General Assembly for the purposes of this
act, the department shall apply for Federal, non-State, private
and other funds and may accept donations, including donations of
equipment, to help public and nonpublic schools comply with the
provisions of this act. Funds and equipment collected under this
subsection shall be distributed to schools in a manner approved
by the department. The department may adopt rules as necessary
to implement this subsection.
Section 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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