HB 156 — An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in departmental powers and duties as to licensing, providing for carbon monoxide alarm standards in child care centers and family child care homes.

PRINTER'S NO.    116

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 156
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY McNEILL, CONKLIN, HILL-EVANS, PIELLI, GIRAL,
        SCHLOSSBERG, HADDOCK, FREEMAN, HANBIDGE, PROBST, SANCHEZ,
        MALAGARI, DONAHUE, NEILSON, SAMUELSON, HOWARD, CIRESI,
        HOHENSTEIN, SHUSTERMAN, DALEY AND DEASY, JANUARY 16, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, JANUARY 16, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
 2      act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
 3      welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in departmental powers and
 4      duties as to licensing, providing for carbon monoxide alarm
 5      standards in child care centers and family child care homes.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8      Section 1.    The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
 9   as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding a section to
10   read:
11      Section 1017.    Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standards in Child Care
12   Centers and Family Child Care Homes.--(a)    Within eighteen
13   months of the effective date of this subsection, each building
14   in which a child care center or family child care home is in
15   operation, which uses a fossil-fuel-burning heater or appliance,
16   fireplace or attached garage, must have an operational,
17   centrally located and approved carbon monoxide alarm that is
18   installed:
 1      (1)    in the vicinity of the fossil-fuel-burning heater or
 2   appliance, fireplace or attached garage; and
 3      (2)    in every unit that is located on the same story as the
 4   fossil-fuel-burning heater or appliance, fireplace or attached
 5   garage.
 6      (b)    The department may take enforcement action against a
 7   child care center or family child care home for a violation of
 8   subsection (a) in accordance with Article IX, this article and
 9   applicable regulations.
10      (c)    Within twelve months of the effective date of this
11   subsection, the department shall provide written notice of the
12   requirements under this section to each child care center or
13   family child care home.
14      (d)    Nothing in this section is intended to modify the
15   authority and responsibilities of the Department of Labor and
16   Industry under the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45),
17   known as the "Pennsylvania Construction Code Act."
18      (e)    As used in this section, the following words and phrases
19   shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
20   the context clearly indicates otherwise:
21      "Approved carbon monoxide alarm" includes:
22      (1)    A single or multiple station carbon monoxide alarm
23   listed as complying with the Standard for Single and Multiple
24   Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms (ANSI/UL2034) or a carbon
25   monoxide detector listed as complying with the Standard for Gas
26   and Vapor Detectors and Sensors (ANSI/UL2075) installed in
27   accordance with this section.
28      (2)    A device that may be combined with a smoke alarm or
29   smoke detector if the combined smoke alarm or smoke detector
30   meets all of the following:

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 1      (i)    Complies with either of the following:
 2      (A)    The Standard for Single and Multiple Station Carbon
 3   Monoxide Alarms (ANSI/UL2034) for carbon monoxide alarms and the
 4   Standard for Single and Multiple Station Smoke Alarms
 5   (ANSI/UL217) for smoke alarms.
 6      (B)    The Standard for Gas and Vapor Detectors and Sensors
 7   (ANSI/UL2075) for carbon monoxide detectors and the Standard for
 8   Safety for Smoke Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems (ANSI/UL268)
 9   for smoke detectors.
10      (ii)    Emits an alarm in a manner that clearly differentiates
11   between detecting the presence of carbon monoxide and the
12   presence of smoke.
13      (3)    A carbon monoxide detection system that includes carbon
14   monoxide detectors and audible notification appliances that are
15   installed and maintained in accordance with the National Fire
16   Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72) and are in compliance with
17   the Standard for Gas and Vapor Detectors and Sensors
18   (ANSI/UL2075).
19      "Installed"    means a carbon monoxide alarm that is hardwired
20   into the electrical wiring, directly plugged into an electrical
21   outlet without a switch, other than a circuit breaker, or, if
22   the alarm is battery-powered, attached to the wall or ceiling of
23   a unit of a child care center or family child care home, in
24   accordance with the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA
25   72).
26      "Operational"     means working and in service.
27      "Unit"    means a room or suite of two or more rooms that is:
28      (1)    occupied as a residence;
29      (2)    intended or designed to be occupied as a residence; or
30      (3)    is occupied by a client of a child care center or family

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1   child care home.
2      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 90 days.




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