SB 258 — An Act providing for standards for carbon monoxide alarms in dormitories; and imposing penalties.

PRINTER'S NO.   211

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                       SENATE BILL
                       No. 258
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

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

     REFERRED TO EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 20, 2025


                                   AN ACT
 1   Providing for standards for carbon monoxide alarms in
 2      dormitories; 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 Dormitories 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."   The term includes:
13          (1)   A single or multiple station carbon monoxide alarm
14      listed as complying with the approved American National
15      Standard for Safety for Single and Multiple Station Carbon
16      Monoxide Alarms (ANSI/UL2034) or a carbon monoxide detector
17      listed as complying with the approved American National
 1    Standard for Safety for Gas and Vapor Detectors and Sensors
 2    (ANSI/UL2075) installed in accordance with this act.
 3        (2)   A device that may be combined with a smoke alarm or
 4    smoke detector if the combined smoke alarm or detector meets
 5    all of the following:
 6              (i)    Complies with either of the following:
 7                     (A)   The approved American National Standard for
 8              Safety for Single and Multiple Station Carbon
 9              Monoxide Alarms (ANSI/UL2034) for carbon monoxide
10              alarms and the approved American National Standard
11              for Safety for Single and Multiple Station Smoke
12              Alarms (ANSI/UL217) for smoke alarms.
13                     (B)   The approved American National Standard for
14              Safety for Gas and Vapor Detectors and Sensors
15              (ANSI/UL2075) for carbon monoxide detectors and the
16              approved American National Standard for Safety for
17              Smoke Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems (ANSI/UL268)
18              for smoke detectors.
19              (ii)    Emits an alarm in a manner that clearly
20        differentiates between detecting the presence of carbon
21        monoxide and the presence of smoke.
22        (3)   A carbon monoxide detection system that includes
23    carbon monoxide detectors and audible notification appliances
24    that are installed and maintained in accordance with the
25    National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72) and the
26    Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO)
27    Detection and Warning Equipment (NFPA 720) and are in
28    compliance with the approved American National Standard for
29    Safety for Gas and Vapor Detectors and Sensors (ANSI/UL2075).
30    "Dormitory."      A building containing one or more housing units

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 1   owned or leased by an institution of higher education which is
 2   used as a residence by the students of the institution of higher
 3   education.
 4      "Fossil fuel."    Coal, kerosene, oil, wood, fuel gases and
 5   other petroleum or hydrocarbon products that emit carbon
 6   monoxide as a by-product of combustion.
 7      "Housing unit."    A room or suite of two or more rooms that is
 8   occupied, leased for occupation or intended or designed to be
 9   occupied as a residence by the students of an institution of
10   higher education.
11      "Installed."     A carbon monoxide alarm that is hardwired into
12   the electrical wiring, directly plugged into an electrical
13   outlet without a switch, other than a circuit breaker, or, if
14   the alarm is battery-powered, attached to the wall or ceiling of
15   a dormitory or a housing unit, in accordance with the Standard
16   for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection and
17   Warning Equipment (NFPA 720).
18      "Institution of higher education."     Any of the following:
19          (1)   A university within the State System of Higher
20      Education under Article XX-A of the act of March 10, 1949
21      (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.
22          (2)   A community college established under Article XIX-A
23      of the Public School Code of 1949.
24          (3)   A State-related institution as defined in section
25      1502-A of the Public School Code of 1949.
26          (4)   A college or university which is operated not for
27      profit, located in and incorporated or chartered by the
28      Commonwealth and entitled to confer degrees as set forth in
29      24 Pa.C.S. § 6505 (relating to power to confer degrees).
30      "Operational."    Working and in service.

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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)     Dormitories.--Each dormitory that uses a fossil-fuel-
 8   burning heater or appliance or has an attached garage must have
 9   an operational, centrally located and approved carbon monoxide
10   alarm installed in the vicinity of the fossil-fuel-burning
11   heater or appliance and in every housing unit that is located on
12   the same story as the fossil-fuel-burning heater or appliance or
13   attached garage within 18 months of the effective date of this
14   section.
15      (b)     Maintenance, repair or replacement.--The governing body
16   of an institution of higher education is responsible for
17   providing for the maintenance, repair or replacement of an
18   approved carbon monoxide alarm and the care and replacement of
19   batteries.
20   Section 5.    Enforcement.
21      Willful failure to install or maintain an operational
22   approved carbon monoxide alarm required by this act is a summary
23   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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