1Requiring carbon monoxide alarms in school buildings.

2The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
3hereby enacts as follows:

4Section 1. Short title.

5This act shall be known and may be cited as the School
6Buildings Carbon Monoxide Alarm Act.

7Section 2. Definitions.

8The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
9have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
10context clearly indicates otherwise:

11"Carbon monoxide alarm." A device to detect and sound an
12alarm in the presence of carbon monoxide which meets all of the
13following:

14(1) Bears the label of a nationally recognized standard
15testing laboratory indicating that it is appropriate for its

1intended use.

2(2) Is installed and maintained in accordance with this
3act.

4(3) Is tested, at least monthly, in accordance with the
5manufacturer's instructions.

6"Department." The Department of Education of the
7Commonwealth.

8"Fossil fuel." Coal, kerosene, oil, fuel gases or other
9petroleum or hydrocarbon product that emits carbon monoxide as a
10byproduct of combustion.

11"Nonpublic school." Any school, other than a public school,
12in which a resident of this Commonwealth may legally fulfill the
13compulsory school attendance requirements of the act of March
1410, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of
151949, and which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil
16Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).

17Section 3. Installation of carbon monoxide alarms.

18(a) Requirement.--Not later than January 1, 2016, all public
19and nonpublic elementary and secondary school buildings that
20contain a fossil-fuel burning furnace, boiler or water heater
21shall be required to install carbon monoxide alarms in
22accordance with the National Fire Protection Association 720:
23Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection
24and Warning Equipment, 2012 Edition and applicable regulations
25adopted by the department under subsection (b). Combination
26smoke and carbon monoxide alarms shall be permitted.

27(b) Regulations.--The department shall adopt regulations in
28consultation with the State Fire Commissioner and State and
29local building code authorities to incorporate the requirements
30specified in this act. These regulations shall include the

1appropriate number, type and placement of carbon monoxide alarms
2in school buildings and shall be completed not later than six
3months after the effective date of this section.

4(c) Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to a
5public or nonpublic school if the department determines that no
6potential carbon monoxide hazard exists for the school building.

7(d) Funding.--In addition to any State funds specifically
8appropriated by the General Assembly for the purposes of this
9act, the department shall apply for private, Federal and other
10non-State funds and may accept donations, including donations of
11equipment, to help public and nonpublic schools comply with the
12provisions of this act. Funds and equipment collected under this
13subsection shall be distributed to schools in a manner approved
14by the department. The department may adopt rules as necessary
15to implement this subsection.

16Section 20. Effective date.

17This act shall take effect immediately.