SB 259 — An Act providing for standards for carbon monoxide alarms in schools; and imposing penalties.

PRINTER'S NO.   213

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                       SENATE BILL
                       No. 259
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY FONTANA, HUGHES, BROWN, COSTA, KANE, PENNYCUICK,
        TARTAGLIONE, COMITTA, SAVAL, 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 schools;
 2      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 Schools 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    "Classroom."      A room located in a public school or a

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 1   nonpublic school where one or more students receive instruction.
 2      "Fossil fuel."    Coal, kerosene, oil, wood, fuel gases and
 3   other petroleum or hydrocarbon products which emit carbon
 4   monoxide as a by-product of combustion.
 5      "Installed."    A carbon monoxide alarm that meets one of the
 6   following criteria in accordance with the Standard for the
 7   Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection and Warning
 8   Equipment (NFPA 720):
 9          (1)     is hardwired into the electrical wiring;
10          (2)     is directly plugged into an electrical outlet
11      without a switch, other than a circuit breaker; or
12          (3)     if the alarm is powered by battery, is attached to
13      the wall or ceiling of a school or classroom.
14      "Nonpublic school."    A school, other than a public school, in
15   which a resident of this Commonwealth may legally fulfill the
16   compulsory attendance requirements of the act of March 10, 1949
17   (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, and
18   which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
19   of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).
20      "Operational."    Working and in service.
21      "Public school."     Any of the following:
22          (1)     A school of a school district.
23          (2)     A charter school.
24          (3)     A regional charter school.
25          (4)     A cyber charter school that provides educational
26      instruction by any means at one or more centrally located
27      facilities where students attend the instruction.
28      "School."    A public school or nonpublic school.
29   Section 3.   Administration.
30      Nothing in this act is intended to modify the authority and

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 1   responsibilities of the Department of Labor and Industry under
 2   the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45), known as the
 3   Pennsylvania Construction Code Act.
 4   Section 4.   Carbon monoxide alarm requirements.
 5      (a)   Installation.--A school that uses a fossil-fuel-burning
 6   heater or appliance or has an attached garage must have an
 7   operational, centrally located and approved carbon monoxide
 8   alarm installed in the vicinity of every classroom that is
 9   located on the same story as the fossil-fuel-burning heater or
10   appliance or attached garage within 18 months of the effective
11   date of this section.
12      (b)   Maintenance, repair or replacement.--The governing body
13   of a school is responsible for providing for the maintenance,
14   repair or replacement of an approved carbon monoxide alarm or
15   the care and replacement of batteries.
16   Section 5.   Enforcement.
17      Willful failure to install or maintain an operational
18   approved carbon monoxide alarm required by this act is a summary
19   offense punishable by a fine of up to $50.
20   Section 6.   Effective date.
21      This act shall take effect immediately.




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