Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

                                                        PRINTER'S NO.   213
                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                       SENATE BILL
                       No. 259
                                                Session of
                                                  2025
     INTRODUCED BY FONTANA, HUGHES, BROWN, COSTA, KANE, PENNYCUICK,
        TARTAGLIONE, COMITTA, SAVAL, SCHWANK, MUTH, FARRY AND
        SANTARSIERO, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
     REFERRED TO EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
                                   AN ACT
 Providing for standards for carbon monoxide alarms in schools;
    and imposing penalties.
    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 Carbon
 Monoxide Alarm Standards in Schools 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:
    "Approved carbon monoxide alarm."   The term includes:
        (1)   A single or multiple station carbon monoxide alarm
    listed as complying with the approved American National
    Standard for Safety for Single and Multiple Station Carbon
    Monoxide Alarms (ANSI/UL2034) or a carbon monoxide detector
    listed as complying with the approved American National
  Standard for Safety for Gas and Vapor Detectors and Sensors
  (ANSI/UL2075) installed in accordance with this act.
      (2)   A device that may be combined with a smoke alarm or
  smoke detector if the combined smoke alarm or detector meets
  all of the following:
            (i)    Complies with either of the following:
                   (A)   The approved American National Standard for
            Safety for Single and Multiple Station Carbon
            Monoxide Alarms (ANSI/UL2034) for carbon monoxide
            alarms and the approved American National Standard
            for Safety for Single and Multiple Station Smoke
            Alarms (ANSI/UL217) for smoke alarms.
                   (B)   The approved American National Standard for
            Safety for Gas and Vapor Detectors and Sensors
            (ANSI/UL2075) for carbon monoxide detectors and the
            approved American National Standard for Safety for
            Smoke Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems (ANSI/UL268)
            for smoke detectors.
            (ii)    Emits an alarm in a manner that clearly
      differentiates between detecting the presence of carbon
      monoxide and the presence of smoke.
      (3)   A carbon monoxide detection system that includes
  carbon monoxide detectors and audible notification appliances
  that are installed and maintained in accordance with the
  National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72) and the
  Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO)
  Detection and Warning Equipment (NFPA 720) and are in
  compliance with the approved American National Standard for
  Safety for Gas and Vapor Detectors and Sensors (ANSI/UL2075).
  "Classroom."      A room located in a public school or a
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 nonpublic school where one or more students receive instruction.
    "Fossil fuel."    Coal, kerosene, oil, wood, fuel gases and
 other petroleum or hydrocarbon products which emit carbon
 monoxide as a by-product of combustion.
    "Installed."    A carbon monoxide alarm that meets one of the
 following criteria in accordance with the Standard for the
 Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection and Warning
 Equipment (NFPA 720):
        (1)     is hardwired into the electrical wiring;
        (2)     is directly plugged into an electrical outlet
    without a switch, other than a circuit breaker; or
        (3)     if the alarm is powered by battery, is attached to
    the wall or ceiling of a school or classroom.
    "Nonpublic school."    A school, other than a public school, in
 which a resident of this Commonwealth may legally fulfill the
 compulsory 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).
    "Operational."    Working and in service.
    "Public school."     Any of the following:
        (1)     A school of a school district.
        (2)     A charter school.
        (3)     A regional charter school.
        (4)     A cyber charter school that provides educational
    instruction by any means at one or more centrally located
    facilities where students attend the instruction.
    "School."    A public school or nonpublic school.
 Section 3.   Administration.
    Nothing in this act is intended to modify the authority and
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 responsibilities of the Department of Labor and Industry under
 the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45), known as the
 Pennsylvania Construction Code Act.
 Section 4.   Carbon monoxide alarm requirements.
    (a)   Installation.--A school that uses a fossil-fuel-burning
 heater or appliance or has an attached garage must have an
 operational, centrally located and approved carbon monoxide
 alarm installed in the vicinity of every classroom that is
 located on the same story as the fossil-fuel-burning heater or
 appliance or attached garage within 18 months of the effective
 date of this section.
    (b)   Maintenance, repair or replacement.--The governing body
 of a school is responsible for providing for the maintenance,
 repair or replacement of an approved carbon monoxide alarm or
 the care and replacement of batteries.
 Section 5.   Enforcement.
    Willful failure to install or maintain an operational
 approved carbon monoxide alarm required by this act is a summary
 offense punishable by a fine of up to $50.
 Section 6.   Effective date.
    This act shall take effect immediately.
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