Florida Senate - 2021 SB 1524



By Senator Rodriguez





39-01490A-21 20211524__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to carbon monoxide alarms; creating s.
3 559.953, F.S.; defining the terms “carbon monoxide
4 alarm” and “generator”; providing legislative
5 findings; requiring a person providing a generator in
6 a transaction to sell, lease, or rent the generator to
7 also include a carbon monoxide alarm in such
8 transaction and recommend that the buyer, lessee, or
9 renter use the alarm while the generator is in use;
10 providing an effective date.
11
12 WHEREAS, between 2008 and 2018, more than 25.3 million
13 residents of this state experienced power outages, more than any
14 other state during the same timeframe, and residents of this
15 state are frequently subject to severe and tropical weather
16 systems that often result in power outages, and
17 WHEREAS, gas-powered generators are a popular source of
18 alternate power during power outages, but these generators
19 produce carbon monoxide, and exposure to carbon monoxide can
20 cause severe health issues or death, and
21 WHEREAS, research shows that the use of carbon monoxide
22 alarms helps increase the detection of potentially hazardous
23 carbon monoxide levels and reduces the risks associated with
24 carbon monoxide exposure, NOW, THEREFORE,
25
26 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
27
28 Section 1. Section 559.953, Florida Statutes, is created to
29 read:
30 559.953 Carbon monoxide alarms required for generator
31 transactions.—
32 (1) As used in this section, the term:
33 (a) “Carbon monoxide alarm” means a device or system that
34 is meant for the purpose of detecting carbon monoxide, that
35 produces a distinct audible alarm, and that is compliant with:
36 1. The American National Standard for Single and Multiple
37 Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms (ANSI/UL 2034); or
38 2. The American National Standard for Gas and Vapor
39 Detectors and Sensors (ANSI/UL 2075).
40 (b) “Generator” means any new or used gas-powered
41 generator, regardless of whether the generator is permanently
42 installed or portable.
43 (2) The Legislature finds that there is a need to require a
44 carbon monoxide alarm to be included with the sale, lease, or
45 rental of any generator to protect the health and safety of the
46 residents of this state who use generators as an alternative
47 source of power during power outages.
48 (3) In a transaction for the sale, lease, or rental of a
49 generator, the person providing the generator in the transaction
50 must include a carbon monoxide alarm in the transaction and
51 recommend that the buyer, lessee, or renter use the carbon
52 monoxide alarm while the generator is in use.
53 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.