II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4442 

To require qualifying smoke alarms in certain federally assisted housing, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 22, 2022 

Mr. CASEY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 

A BILL 

To require qualifying smoke alarms in certain federally 

assisted housing, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public and Federally 

5 Assisted Housing Fire Safety Act of 2022’’. 

6 SEC. 2. SMOKE ALARMS IN FEDERALLY ASSISTED HOUSING. 

7 (a) PUBLIC HOUSING, TENANT-BASED ASSISTANCE, 

8 AND PROJECT-BASED ASSISTANCE.—The United States 

9 Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) is amend10 ed— 


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1 (1) in section 3(a) (42 U.S.C. 1437a(a)), by 

2 adding at the end the following: 

3 ‘‘(9) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 

4 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each public housing 

5 agency shall ensure that a qualifying smoke 

6 alarm is installed in accordance with applicable 

7 codes and standards published by the Inter8 national Code Council or the National Fire Pro9 tection Association and the requirements of the 

10 National Fire Protection Association Standard 

11 72, or any successor standard, in each level and 

12 in or near each sleeping area in any dwelling 

13 unit in public housing owned or operated by the 

14 public housing agency, including in basements 

15 but excepting crawl spaces and unfinished at16 tics, and in each common area in a project con17 taining such a dwelling unit. 

18 ‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this 

19 paragraph, the following definitions shall apply: 

20 ‘‘(i) SMOKE ALARM DEFINED.—The 

21 term ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given 

22 the term ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) 

23 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 

24 Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2225(d)). 


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1 ‘‘(ii) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARM DE2 FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke 

3 alarm’ means a smoke alarm that— 

4 ‘‘(I) in the case of a dwelling unit 

5 built before the date of enactment of 

6 this paragraph and not substantially 

7 rehabilitated after the date of enact8 ment of this paragraph is— 

9 ‘‘(aa) hardwired; or 

10 ‘‘(bb) uses 10-year non11 rechargeable, nonreplaceable pri12 mary batteries and— 

13 ‘‘(AA) is sealed; 

14 ‘‘(BB) is tamper resist15 ant; 

16 ‘‘(CC) contains silenc17 ing means; and 

18 ‘‘(DD) provides notifi19 cation for persons with hear20 ing loss as required by the 

21 National Fire Protection As22 sociation Standard 72, or 

23 any successor standard; or 

24 ‘‘(II) in the case of a dwelling 

25 unit built or substantially rehabiliVerDate Sep 11 2014 17:49 Jun 25, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4442.IS S4442

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1 tated after the date of enactment of 

2 this paragraph, is hardwired.’’; and 

3 (2) in section 8 (42 U.S.C. 1437f)— 

4 (A) by inserting after subsection (k) the 

5 following: 

6 ‘‘(l) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each owner of a dwelling 

8 unit receiving project-based assistance under this 

9 section shall ensure that qualifying smoke alarms 

10 are installed in accordance with applicable codes and 

11 standards published by the International Code Coun12 cil or the National Fire Protection Association and 

13 the requirements of the National Fire Protection As14 sociation Standard 72, or any successor standard, in 

15 each level and in or near each sleeping area in such 

16 dwelling unit, including in basements but excepting 

17 crawl spaces and unfinished attics, and in each com18 mon area in a project containing such a dwelling 

19 unit. 

20 ‘‘(2) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub21 section, the following definitions shall apply: 

22 ‘‘(A) SMOKE ALARM DEFINED.—The term 

23 ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given the term 

24 ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of the Federal 


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•S 4442 IS

1 Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 

2 U.S.C. 2225(d)). 

3 ‘‘(B) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARM DE4 FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ 

5 means a smoke alarm that— 

6 ‘‘(i) in the case of a dwelling unit 

7 built before the date of enactment of this 

8 paragraph and not substantially rehabili9 tated after the date of enactment of this 

10 paragraph is— 

11 ‘‘(I) hardwired; or 

12 ‘‘(II) uses 10-year nonrecharge13 able, nonreplaceable primary batteries 

14 and— 

15 ‘‘(aa) is sealed; 

16 ‘‘(bb) is tamper resistant; 

17 ‘‘(cc) contains silencing 

18 means; and 

19 ‘‘(dd) provides notification 

20 for persons with hearing loss as 

21 required by the National Fire 

22 Protection Association Standard 

23 72, or any successor standard; or 

24 ‘‘(ii) in the case of a dwelling unit 

25 built or substantially rehabilitated after the 


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1 date of enactment of this paragraph, is 

2 hardwired.’’; and 

3 (B) in subsection (o), by adding at the end 

4 the following: 

5 ‘‘(22) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 

6 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each dwelling unit re7 ceiving tenant-based assistance or project-based 

8 assistance under this subsection shall have a 

9 qualifying smoke alarm installed in accordance 

10 with applicable codes and standards published 

11 by the International Code Council or the Na12 tional Fire Protection Association and the re13 quirements of the National Fire Protection As14 sociation Standard 72, or any successor stand15 ard, in each level and in or near each sleeping 

16 area in such dwelling unit, including in base17 ments but excepting crawl spaces and unfin18 ished attics, and in each common area in a 

19 project containing such a dwelling unit. 

20 ‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this 

21 paragraph, the following definitions shall apply: 

22 ‘‘(i) SMOKE ALARM DEFINED.—The 

23 term ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given 

24 the term ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) 


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•S 4442 IS

1 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 

2 Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2225(d)). 

3 ‘‘(ii) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARM DE4 FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke 

5 alarm’ means a smoke alarm that— 

6 ‘‘(I) in the case of a dwelling unit 

7 built before the date of enactment of 

8 this paragraph and not substantially 

9 rehabilitated after the date of enact10 ment of this paragraph is— 

11 ‘‘(aa) hardwired; or 

12 ‘‘(bb) uses 10-year non13 rechargeable, nonreplaceable pri14 mary batteries and— 

15 ‘‘(AA) is sealed; 

16 ‘‘(BB) is tamper resist17 ant; 

18 ‘‘(CC) contains silenc19 ing means; and 

20 ‘‘(DD) provides notifi21 cation for persons with hear22 ing loss as required by the 

23 National Fire Protection As24 sociation Standard 72, or 

25 any successor standard; or 


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1 ‘‘(II) in the case of a dwelling 

2 unit built or substantially rehabili3 tated after the date of enactment of 

4 this paragraph, is hardwired.’’. 

5 (b) SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY.— 

6 Section 202(j) of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 

7 1701q(j)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

8 ‘‘(10) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 

9 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each owner of a 

10 dwelling unit assisted under this section shall 

11 ensure that qualifying smoke alarms are in12 stalled in accordance with the requirements of 

13 applicable codes and standards and the Na14 tional Fire Protection Association Standard 72, 

15 or any successor standard, in each level and in 

16 or near each sleeping area in such dwelling 

17 unit, including in basements but excepting 

18 crawl spaces and unfinished attics, and in each 

19 common area in a project containing such a 

20 dwelling unit. 

21 ‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this 

22 paragraph, the following definitions shall apply: 

23 ‘‘(i) SMOKE ALARM DEFINED.—The 

24 term ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given 

25 the term ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) 


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•S 4442 IS

1 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 

2 Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2225(d)). 

3 ‘‘(ii) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARM DE4 FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke 

5 alarm’ means a smoke alarm that— 

6 ‘‘(I) in the case of a dwelling unit 

7 built before the date of enactment of 

8 this paragraph and not substantially 

9 rehabilitated after the date of enact10 ment of this paragraph is— 

11 ‘‘(aa) hardwired; or 

12 ‘‘(bb) uses 10-year non13 rechargeable, nonreplaceable pri14 mary batteries and— 

15 ‘‘(AA) is sealed; 

16 ‘‘(BB) is tamper resist17 ant; 

18 ‘‘(CC) contains silenc19 ing means; and 

20 ‘‘(DD) provides notifi21 cation for persons with hear22 ing loss as required by the 

23 National Fire Protection As24 sociation Standard 72, or 

25 any successor standard; or 


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•S 4442 IS

1 ‘‘(II) in the case of a dwelling 

2 unit built or substantially rehabili3 tated after the date of enactment of 

4 this paragraph, is hardwired.’’. 

5 (c) SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DIS6 ABILITIES.—Section 811(j) of the Cranston-Gonzalez Na7 tional Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013(j)) is 

8 amended by adding at the end the following: 

9 ‘‘(8) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 

10 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each dwelling unit as11 sisted under this section shall contain qualifying 

12 smoke alarms that are installed in accordance 

13 with applicable codes and standards published 

14 by the International Code Council or the Na15 tional Fire Protection Association and the re16 quirements of the National Fire Protection As17 sociation Standard 72, or any successor stand18 ard, in each level and in or near each sleeping 

19 area in such dwelling unit, including in base20 ments but excepting crawl spaces and unfin21 ished attics, and in each common area in a 

22 project containing such a dwelling unit. 

23 ‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this 

24 paragraph, the following definitions shall apply: 


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•S 4442 IS

1 ‘‘(i) SMOKE ALARM DEFINED.—The 

2 term ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given 

3 the term ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) 

4 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 

5 Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2225(d)). 

6 ‘‘(ii) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARM DE7 FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke 

8 alarm’ means a smoke alarm that— 

9 ‘‘(I) in the case of a dwelling unit 

10 built before the date of enactment of 

11 this paragraph and not substantially 

12 rehabilitated after the date of enact13 ment of this paragraph is— 

14 ‘‘(aa) hardwired; or 

15 ‘‘(bb) uses 10-year non16 rechargeable, nonreplaceable pri17 mary batteries and— 

18 ‘‘(AA) is sealed; 

19 ‘‘(BB) is tamper resist20 ant; 

21 ‘‘(CC) contains silenc22 ing means; and 

23 ‘‘(DD) provides notifi24 cation for persons with hear25 ing loss as required by the 


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1 National Fire Protection As2 sociation Standard 72, or 

3 any successor standard; or 

4 ‘‘(II) in the case of a dwelling 

5 unit built or substantially rehabili6 tated after the date of enactment of 

7 this paragraph, is hardwired.’’. 

8 (d) HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH

9 AIDS.—Section 856 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 

10 Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12905) is amended by 

11 adding at the end the following new subsection: 

12 ‘‘(j) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 

13 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each dwelling unit assisted 

14 under this subtitle shall contain qualifying smoke 

15 alarms that are installed in accordance with applica16 ble codes and standards published by the Inter17 national Code Council or the National Fire Protec18 tion Association and the requirements of the Na19 tional Fire Protection Association Standard 72, or 

20 any successor standard, in each level and in or near 

21 each sleeping area in such dwelling unit, including in 

22 basements but excepting crawl spaces and unfinished 

23 attics, and in each common area in a project con24 taining such a dwelling unit. 


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1 ‘‘(2) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub2 section, the following definitions shall apply: 

3 ‘‘(A) SMOKE ALARM DEFINED.—The term 

4 ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given the term 

5 ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of the Federal 

6 Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 

7 U.S.C. 2225(d)). 

8 ‘‘(B) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARM DE9 FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ 

10 means a smoke alarm that— 

11 ‘‘(i) in the case of a dwelling unit 

12 built before the date of enactment of this 

13 subsection and not substantially rehabili14 tated after the date of enactment of this 

15 subsection is— 

16 ‘‘(I) hardwired; or 

17 ‘‘(II) uses 10-year nonrecharge18 able, nonreplaceable primary batteries 

19 and— 

20 ‘‘(aa) is sealed; 

21 ‘‘(bb) is tamper resistant; 

22 ‘‘(cc) contains silencing 

23 means; and 

24 ‘‘(dd) provides notification 

25 for persons with hearing loss as 


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1 required by the National Fire 

2 Protection Association Standard 

3 72, or any successor standard; or 

4 ‘‘(ii) in the case of a dwelling unit 

5 built or substantially rehabilitated after the 

6 date of enactment of this subsection, is 

7 hardwired.’’. 

8 (e) RURAL HOUSING.—Title V of the Housing Act 

9 of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.) is amended— 

10 (1) in section 514 (42 U.S.C. 1484), by adding 

11 at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘(k) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 

13 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Housing and related facili14 ties constructed with loans under this section shall 

15 contain qualifying smoke alarms that are installed in 

16 accordance with applicable codes and standards pub17 lished by the International Code Council or the Na18 tional Fire Protection Association and the require19 ments of the National Fire Protection Association 

20 Standard 72, or any successor standard, in each 

21 level and in or near each sleeping area in such dwell22 ing unit, including in basements but excepting crawl 

23 spaces and unfinished attics, and in each common 

24 area in a project containing such a dwelling unit. 


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•S 4442 IS

1 ‘‘(2) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub2 section, the following definitions shall apply: 

3 ‘‘(A) SMOKE ALARM DEFINED.—The term 

4 ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given the term 

5 ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of the Federal 

6 Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 

7 U.S.C. 2225(d)). 

8 ‘‘(B) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARM DE9 FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ 

10 means a smoke alarm that— 

11 ‘‘(i) in the case of a dwelling unit 

12 built before the date of enactment of this 

13 subsection and not substantially rehabili14 tated after the date enactment of this sub15 section is— 

16 ‘‘(I) hardwired; or 

17 ‘‘(II) uses 10-year nonrecharge18 able, nonreplaceable primary batteries 

19 and— 

20 ‘‘(aa) is sealed; 

21 ‘‘(bb) is tamper resistant; 

22 ‘‘(cc) contains silencing 

23 means; and 

24 ‘‘(dd) provides notification 

25 for persons with hearing loss as 


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1 required by the National Fire 

2 Protection Association Standard 

3 72, or any successor standard; or 

4 ‘‘(ii) in the case of a dwelling unit 

5 built or substantially rehabilitated after the 

6 date of enactment of this subsection, is 

7 hardwired.’’; and 

8 (2) in section 515(m) (42 U.S.C. 1485(m)) by 

9 adding at the end the following: 

10 ‘‘(3) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 

11 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Housing and related facili12 ties rehabilitated or repaired with amounts received 

13 under a loan made or insured under this section 

14 shall contain qualifying smoke alarms that are in15 stalled in accordance with applicable codes and 

16 standards published by the International Code Coun17 cil or the National Fire Protection Association and 

18 the requirements of the National Fire Protection As19 sociation Standard 72, or any successor standard, in 

20 each level and in or near each sleeping area in such 

21 dwelling unit, including in basements but excepting 

22 crawl spaces and unfinished attics, and in each com23 mon area in a project containing such a dwelling 

24 unit. 


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•S 4442 IS

1 ‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this para2 graph, the following definitions shall apply: 

3 ‘‘(i) SMOKE ALARM DEFINED.—The term 

4 ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given the term 

5 ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of the Federal 

6 Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 

7 U.S.C. 2225(d)). 

8 ‘‘(ii) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARM DE9 FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ 

10 means a smoke alarm that— 

11 ‘‘(I) in the case of a dwelling unit 

12 built before the date of enactment of this 

13 paragraph and not substantially rehabili14 tated after the date of enactment of this 

15 paragraph is— 

16 ‘‘(aa) hardwired; or 

17 ‘‘(bb) uses 10-year nonrecharge18 able, nonreplaceable primary batteries 

19 and— 

20 ‘‘(AA) is sealed; 

21 ‘‘(BB) is tamper resistant; 

22 ‘‘(CC) contains silencing 

23 means; and 

24 ‘‘(DD) provides notification 

25 for persons with hearing loss as 


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1 required by the National Fire 

2 Protection Association Standard 

3 72, or any successor standard; or 

4 ‘‘(II) in the case of a dwelling unit 

5 built or substantially rehabilitated after the 

6 date of enactment of this paragraph, is 

7 hardwired.’’. 

8 (f) FARM LABOR HOUSING DIRECT LOANS & 

9 GRANTS.—Section 516 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 

10 U.S.C. 1486) is amended— 

11 (1) in subsection (c)— 

12 (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

13 the end; 

14 (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the pe15 riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

16 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

17 ‘‘(4) that such housing shall contain qualifying 

18 smoke alarms that are installed in accordance with 

19 applicable codes and standards published by the 

20 International Code Council or the National Fire 

21 Protection Association and the requirements of the 

22 National Fire Protection Association Standard 72, 

23 or any successor standard, in each level and in or 

24 near each sleeping area in such dwelling unit, in25 cluding in basements but excepting crawl spaces and 


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1 unfinished attics, and in each common area in a 

2 project containing such a dwelling unit.’’; and 

3 (2) in subsection (g)— 

4 (A) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

5 the end; 

6 (B) in paragraph (4), by striking the pe7 riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 

8 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

9 ‘‘(4) the term ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning 

10 given the term ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of 

11 the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 

12 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2225(d)); and 

13 ‘‘(5) the term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ means 

14 a smoke alarm that— 

15 ‘‘(A) in the case of a dwelling unit built be16 fore the date of enactment of this paragraph 

17 and not substantially rehabilitated after the 

18 date of enactment of this paragraph is— 

19 ‘‘(i) hardwired; or 

20 ‘‘(ii) uses 10-year non rechargeable, 

21 nonreplaceable primary batteries and— 

22 ‘‘(I) is sealed; 

23 ‘‘(II) is tamper resistant; 

24 ‘‘(III) contains silencing means; 

25 and 


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1 ‘‘(IV) provides notification for 

2 persons with hearing loss as required 

3 by the National Fire Protection Asso4 ciation Standard 72, or any successor 

5 standard; or 

6 ‘‘(B) in the case of a dwelling unit built or 

7 substantially rehabilitated after the date of en8 actment of this paragraph, is hardwired.’’. 

9 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

10 authorized to be appropriated to carry out the amend11 ments made by this section such sums as are necessary 

12 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027. 

13 (h) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

14 subsections (a) through (f) shall take effect on the date 

15 that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 

16 (i) NO PREEMPTION.—Nothing in the amendments 

17 made by this section shall be construed to preempt or limit 

18 the applicability of any State or local law relating to the 

19 installation and maintenance of smoke alarms in housing 

20 that requires standards that are more stringent than the 

21 standards described in the amendments made by this sec22 tion. 

23 SEC. 3. FIRE SAFETY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Housing and 

25 Urban Development shall, not later than 1 year after the 


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1 date of enactment of this Act, complete a national edu2 cational campaign that educates the general public about 

3 health and safety requirements in housing and how to 

4 properly use safety features in housing, including self-clos5 ing doors, smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide detectors. 

6 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

7 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Housing 

8 and Urban Development to carry out this section, 

9 $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2023. 

Æ 


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