SB 257 — An Act providing for standards for carbon monoxide alarms in certain lodging establishments; and imposing penalties.

PRINTER'S NO.   212

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                       SENATE BILL
                       No. 257
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY FONTANA, HUGHES, HAYWOOD, BROWN, COSTA, KANE,
        TARTAGLIONE, PENNYCUICK, COMITTA, SAVAL, SCHWANK, MUTH, FARRY
        AND SANTARSIERO, FEBRUARY 20, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
        FEBRUARY 20, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Providing for standards for carbon monoxide alarms in certain
 2      lodging establishments; and imposing penalties.
 3      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 4   hereby enacts as follows:
 5   Section 1.   Short title.
 6      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Carbon
 7   Monoxide Alarm Standards in Lodging Establishments Act.
 8   Section 2.   Definitions.
 9      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11   context clearly indicates otherwise:
12      "Approved carbon monoxide alarm."     As defined in section 2 of
13   the act of December 18, 2013 (P.L.1229, No.121), known as the
14   Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standards Act.
15      "Fossil fuel."   As defined in section 2 of the Carbon
16   Monoxide Alarm Standards Act.
17      "Installed."   A carbon monoxide alarm that is hardwired into
 1   the electrical wiring, directly plugged into an electrical
 2   outlet without a switch, other than a circuit breaker, or, if
 3   the alarm is battery powered, attached to the wall or ceiling of
 4   a lodging establishment or a unit, in accordance with the
 5   Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection
 6   and Warning Equipment (NFPA 720).
 7      "Lodging establishment."
 8          (1)   Any of the following:
 9                (i)    a hotel, motel, inn, guest house or other
10          structure which is held out by any means, including
11          advertising, license, registration with an innkeepers'
12          group, convention listing association, travel publication
13          or similar association or with a government agency, as
14          being available to provide overnight lodging or use of
15          facility space for consideration to persons seeking
16          temporary accommodation;
17                (ii)    a place which advertises beds, sanitary
18          facilities or other space for a temporary period to
19          members of the public-at-large; or
20                (iii)    a place recognized as a hostelry.
21          (2)   The term includes any portion of a facility that is
22      devoted to an individual who pays consideration to occupy one
23      or more units as an established permanent residence. The term
24      does not include a college or university student residence
25      hall.
26      "Operational."     Working and in service.
27      "Unit."   A room or a suite of two or more rooms of a lodging
28   establishment that are occupied, leased for occupation or
29   intended or designed to be occupied either as overnight lodging,
30   temporary accommodation or as a permanent residence.

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 1   Section 3.   Administration.
 2      Nothing in this act is intended to modify the authority and
 3   responsibilities of the Department of Labor and Industry under
 4   the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45), known as the
 5   Pennsylvania Construction Code Act.
 6   Section 4.   Carbon monoxide alarm requirements.
 7      (a)   Lodging establishment.--A lodging establishment that
 8   uses a fossil-fuel-burning heater, fireplace or appliance or has
 9   an attached garage must have an operational, centrally located
10   and approved carbon monoxide alarm installed in the vicinity of
11   the fossil-fuel-burning heater, fireplace or appliance and in
12   every unit that is located on the same story as the fossil-fuel-
13   burning heater, fireplace or appliance or attached garage within
14   18 months of the effective date of this subsection.
15      (b)   Maintenance, repair or replacement.--The owner of a
16   lodging establishment is responsible for providing for the
17   maintenance, repair or replacement of an approved carbon
18   monoxide alarm and the alarm's batteries in the lodging
19   establishment.
20   Section 5.   Enforcement.
21      Willful failure to install or maintain an operational
22   approved carbon monoxide alarm required under this act is a
23   summary offense punishable by a fine of up to $50.
24   Section 6.   Effective date.
25      This act shall take effect immediately.




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