California Senate Bill SB183 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 183AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 13, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Senator Lowenthal FEBRUARY 17, 2009  An act to relating to carbon monoxide alarms.   An act to amend Sections 1102.6 and 1102.6d of the Civil Code, and to add Sections 17926, 17926.1, and 17926.3 to, and to add Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 13260) to Part 2 of Division 12 of, the Health and Safety Code, relating to residential building safety.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 183, as amended, Lowenthal.  Carbon monoxide alarms.   Residential building safety.   (1) Existing law requires certain transferors of real property improved with 1 to 4, inclusive, dwelling units, as well as transferors of mobilehomes and manufactured homes, to make specified disclosures to prospective transferees regarding the characteristics of the property and prescribes forms for the purpose of making these disclosures. Existing law requires the transferor of real property containing a single-family dwelling to provide transferees written notice of compliance with specified requirements for the installation of smoke detectors. Existing law requires the seller of any real property containing a water heater to certify in writing to a prospective purchaser compliance with specified safety requirements related to those water heaters.   This bill would revise the disclosure forms, described above, to provide a seller certification that the property, at the close of escrow, will be in compliance with the requirements for smoke detectors and water heaters, described above, and to remove these provisions from elsewhere in the forms. The bill would also revise the disclosure forms to add a disclosure regarding carbon monoxide devices and a statement specifying that installation of a listed appliance, device, or amenity is not a precondition to sale or transfer.  Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to adopt regulations and standards regarding the quality and installation of burglar bars and safety release mechanisms for emergency escape and rescue windows, the approval and installation of smoke detectors, and the approval of portable fire extinguishers for marketing, distribution, and sale in this state. Existing law requires a smoke detector approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal to be installed in a dwelling unit intended for human occupancy.  The State Housing Law creates standards for buildings used for human habitation. A violation of that law is a misdemeanor.   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to ensure that a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in each dwelling intended for human occupancy with a fossil fuel burning heater or appliance, fireplace, or attached garage. The bill would also make a statement of legislative findings.   This bill would enact the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2009. This bill would require the State Fire Marshal to certify and approve carbon monoxide devices for the use in dwelling units intended for human occupancy, as defined. The bill would require the State Fire Marshal to charge an appropriate fee to the manufacturer of a carbon monoxide device to cover the costs associated with the approval and listing of carbon monoxide devices and the costs of the Department of Housing and Community Development for the development and proposal of building standards. The bill would prohibit the marketing, distribution, or sale of devices that do not meet these standards. The bill would require a carbon monoxide device to be installed in a dwelling unit intended for human occupancy, as specified, and would generally provide that a violation of these provisions is an infraction punishable by a maximum fine of $200 for each offense, but the bill would require that a property owner receive a 30-day notice to correct prior to the imposition of the fine. By creating a new crime, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. The bill would provide that a transfer of title is not invalidated on the basis of a failure to comply with these requirements, and that the exclusive remedy for the failure to comply is an award of actual damages not to exceed $100, exclusive of any court costs and attorney's fees.   This bill would require an owner or the owner's agent of a dwelling unit intended for human occupancy who rents or leases space to a tenant to maintain carbon monoxide devices in that dwelling unit. The bill would permit the owner or the owner's agent to enter that dwelling unit to install, repair, test, and maintain carbon monoxide devices, as specified. The bill would permit the Department of Housing and Community Development, after consultation with the State Fire Marshal, to develop and propose building standards consistent with the bill's provisions. The bill would permit the Department of Housing and Community Development to suspend enforcement of certain requirements on property owners if the department, in consultation with the State Fire Marshal, determines that a sufficient amount of tested and approved carbon monoxide devices are not available, and would require the department to publicize this decision, as specified. The bill would also make a statement of legislative findings.   (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program:  no   yes  . THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 1102.6 of the   Civil Code   is amended to read:  1102.6. The disclosures required by this article pertaining to the property proposed to be transferred are set forth in, and shall be made on a copy of, the following disclosure form: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NOTICE OF INCOMPLETE TEXT: The Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement appears in the hard-copy publication of the chaptered bill. See Sec. 13 of Chapter 62, Statutes of 2003. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  SEC. 2.   Section 1102.6d of the   Civil Code   is amended to read:  1102.6d. Except for manufactured homes and mobilehomes located in a common interest development governed by Title 6 (commencing with Section 1351), the disclosures applicable to the resale of a manufactured home or mobilehome pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1102 are set forth in, and shall be made on a copy of, the following disclosure form: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NOTICE OF INCOMPLETE TEXT: The Manufactured Home and Mobilehome Transfer Disclosure Statement appears in the hard-copy publication of the chaptered bill. See Sec. 6 of Chapter 517, Statutes of 1999. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  SEC. 3.   Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 13260) is added to Part 2 of Division 12 of the   Health and Safety Code   , to read:   CHAPTER 8. CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING PREVENTION ACT OF 2009 13260. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2009. 13261. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) According to the American Medical Association, carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that carbon monoxide kills approximately 500 people each year and injures another 20,000 people nationwide. (b) According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a person cannot see or smell carbon monoxide. At high levels carbon monoxide can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide is produced whenever any fuel, such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal, is burned. (c) The State Air Resources Board estimates that every year carbon monoxide accounts for between 30 and 40 avoidable deaths, possibly thousands of avoidable illnesses, and between 175 and 700 avoidable emergency room and hospital visits. (d) There are well-documented chronic health effects of acute carbon monoxide poisoning or prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide, including, but not limited to, lethargy, headaches, concentration problems, amnesia, psychosis, Parkinson's disease, memory impairment, and personality alterations. (e) Experts estimate that equipping every home with a carbon monoxide device would cut accident-related costs by 93 percent. Eighteen states and a number of large cities have laws mandating the use of carbon monoxide devices. (f) Carbon monoxide devices provide a vital, highly effective, and low-cost protection against carbon monoxide poisoning and these devices should be made available to every home in California. 13262. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply: (a) "Carbon monoxide device" means a device that meets all of the following requirements: (1) A device designed to detect carbon monoxide and produce a distinct, audible alarm. (2) A device that is battery powered, a plug-in device with battery backup, or a device installed as recommended by Standard 720 of the National Fire Protection Association that is either wired into the alternating current power line of the dwelling unit with a secondary battery backup or connected to a system via a panel. (3) If the device is combined with a smoke detector, the combined device shall comply with all of the following: (A) The standards that apply to carbon monoxide alarms as described in this chapter. (B) The standards that apply to smoke detectors, as described in Section 13113.7. (C) The combined device emits an alarm or voice warning in a manner that clearly differentiates between a carbon monoxide alarm warning and a smoke detector warning. (4) The device has been tested and certified, pursuant to the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Underwriters' Laboratories Inc. (UL) as set forth in either ANSI/UL 2034 or ANSI/UL 2075, by a nationally recognized testing laboratory listed in the directory of approved testing laboratories established by the Building Materials Listing Program of the Fire Engineering Division of the Office of the State Fire Marshal of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. (b) "Dwelling unit intended for human occupancy" includes a single-family dwelling, factory-built home as defined in Section 19971, duplex, lodging house, dormitory, hotel, motel, condominium, stock cooperative, time-share project, or dwelling unit in a multiple-unit dwelling unit building or buildings. "Dwelling unit intended for human occupancy" does not include a property owned or leased by the state, the Regents of the University of California, or a local governmental agency. (c) "Fossil fuel" means coal, kerosene, oil, wood, fuel gases, and other petroleum or hydrocarbon products, which emit carbon monoxide as a byproduct of combustion. 13263. (a) (1) The State Fire Marshal shall develop a certification and decertification process to approve and list carbon monoxide devices and to disapprove and delist previously approved devices, if necessary. The certification and decertification process shall include consideration of effectiveness and reliability of the devices, including, but not limited to, their propensity to record false alarms. (2) The State Fire Marshal shall charge an appropriate fee to the manufacturer of a carbon monoxide device to cover his or her costs associated with the approval and listing of carbon monoxide devices and the costs of the Department of Housing and Community Development for the development and proposal of building standards pursuant to Section 17926.3. (b) A person shall not market, distribute, offer for sale, or sell any carbon monoxide device in this state unless the device has been approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal.   SEC. 4.   Section 17926 is added to the   Health and Safety Code   , to read:   17926. (a) An owner of a dwelling unit intended for human occupancy shall install a carbon monoxide device, approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 13263, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions in each existing dwelling unit having a fossil fuel burning heater or appliance, fireplace, or an attached garage, within the earliest applicable time period as follows: (1) For all existing single-family dwelling units intended for human occupancy on or before January 1, 2011. (2) For all other existing dwelling units intended for human occupancy on or before January 1, 2012. (b) (1) Notwithstanding Section 17995, and except as provided in paragraph (2), a violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a maximum fine of two hundred dollars ($200) for each offense. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a property owner shall receive a 30-day notice to correct. If an owner receiving notice fails to correct within that time period, the owner may be assessed the fine pursuant to paragraph (2). (c) No transfer of title shall be invalidated on the basis of a failure to comply with this section, and the exclusive remedy for the failure to comply with this section is an award of actual damages not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100), exclusive of any court costs and attorney's fees. (d) A local ordinance requiring carbon monoxide devices may be enacted or amended if the ordinance is consistent with this chapter.   SEC. 5.   Section 17926.1 is added to the   Health and Safety Code   , to read:   17926.1. (a) An owner or owner's agent of a dwelling unit intended for human occupancy who rents or leases space to a tenant shall maintain carbon monoxide devices in that dwelling unit consistent with this section and Section 17926. (b) An owner or the owner's agent may enter any dwelling unit, efficiency dwelling unit, guest room, and suite owned by the owner for the purpose of installing, repairing, testing, and maintaining single station carbon monoxide devices required by this section, pursuant to the authority and requirements of Section 1954 of the Civil Code. (c) The carbon monoxide device shall be operable at the time that the tenant takes possession. A tenant shall be responsible for notifying the owner or owner's agent if the tenant becomes aware of an inoperable or deficient carbon monoxide device within his or her unit. The owner or owner's agent shall correct any reported deficiencies or inoperabilities in the carbon monoxide device and shall not be in violation of this section for a deficient or inoperable carbon monoxide device when he or she has not received notice of the deficiency or inoperability. (d) This section shall not affect any rights which the parties may have under any other provision of law because of the presence or absence of a carbon monoxide device. (e) For purposes of this section, with respect to a time-share project, "owner" means the homeowners' association of the time-share project.   SEC. 6.   Section 17926.3 is added to the   Health and Safety Code   , to read:   17926.3. (a) (1) The department may, after consultation with the State Fire Marshal, develop and propose building standards consistent with the intent of the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2009. (2) If the department, in consultation with the State Fire Marshal, determines that a sufficient amount of tested and approved carbon monoxide devices are not available to property owners to meet the requirements of the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2009 and Sections 17926 and 17926.1, the department may suspend enforcement of the requirements of Sections 17926 and 17926.1 for up to six months. If the department elects to suspend enforcement of these requirements, the department shall notify the Secretary of State of its decision and shall post a public notice that describes its findings and decision on the departmental Internet Web site. (b) If the Department of Housing and Community Development or the California Building Standards Commission adopts regulations or standards after July 1, 2010, that modify or revise the regulations of building standards in a manner that modifies the original requirements imposed by this section, the owner or owner's agent shall not be required to install a new device meeting the requirements of those regulations or building standards within an individual dwelling unit until the owner makes application for a permit for alterations, repairs, or additions to that dwelling unit, the cost of which will exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).   SEC. 7.   No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.   SECTION 1.   (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) According to the American Medical Association, carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. Each year carbon monoxide kills approximately 500 people and injures another 15,000 people nationwide. (2) According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a person cannot see or smell carbon monoxide. At high levels carbon monoxide can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide is produced whenever any fuel, such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal, is burned. (3) Experts estimate that equipping every home with a carbon monoxide device would cut accident-related costs by 93 percent. Sixteen states and a number of large cities have laws mandating the use of carbon monoxide devices. (4) Carbon monoxide devices provide a vital, highly effective, and low-cost protection against carbon monoxide poisoning and these devices should be made available to every home in California. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure that a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in each dwelling intended for human occupancy with a fossil fuel burning heater or appliance, fireplace, or attached garage.