II 

Calendar No. 524 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 481 

[Report No. 116–261] 

To encourage States to require the installation of residential carbon monoxide 

detectors in homes, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 13, 2019 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. HOEVEN, Mr. CRAMER, Ms. SMITH, and 

Mr. BLUMENTHAL) introduced the following bill; which was read twice 

and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 

Reported by Mr. WICKER, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To encourage States to require the installation of residential 

carbon monoxide detectors in homes, 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, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Nicholas and Zachary 

3 Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention 

4 Act of 2019’’. 

5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

6 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

7 (1) Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas 

8 produced by burning any fuel. Exposure to unheal9 thy levels of carbon monoxide can lead to carbon 

10 monoxide poisoning, a serious health condition that 

11 could result in death. 

12 (2) Unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning 

13 from motor vehicles and improper operation of fuel14 burning appliances, such as furnaces, water heaters, 

15 portable generators, and stoves, annually kills more 

16 than 400 individuals and sends approximately 

17 15,000 individuals to hospital emergency rooms for 

18 treatment. 

19 (3) Research shows that installing carbon mon20 oxide alarms close to the sleeping areas in residen21 tial homes and other dwelling units can help avoid 

22 fatalities. 

23 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con24 gress that Congress should promote the installation of car25 bon monoxide alarms in residential homes and dwelling 

26 units across the United States in order to promote the 


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1 health and public safety of citizens throughout the United 

2 States. 

3 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this Act: 

5 (1) CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM.—The term 

6 ‘‘carbon monoxide alarm’’ means a device or system 

7 that— 

8 (A) detects carbon monoxide; and 

9 (B) is intended to sound an alarm at a 

10 carbon monoxide concentration below a con11 centration that could cause a loss of the ability 

12 to react to the dangers of carbon monoxide ex13 posure. 

14 (2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

15 means the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

16 (3) COMPLIANT CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM.— 

17 The term ‘‘compliant carbon monoxide alarm’’ 

18 means a carbon monoxide alarm that complies with 

19 the most current version of— 

20 (A) the Standard for Single and Multiple 

21 Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms of the Amer22 ican National Standards Institute and UL 

23 (ANSI/UL 2034), or any successor standard; 

24 and 


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1 (B) the Standard for Gas and Vapor De2 tectors and Sensors of the American National 

3 Standards Institute and UL (ANSI/UL 2075), 

4 or any successor standard. 

5 (4) DWELLING UNIT.—The term ‘‘dwelling 

6 unit’’— 

7 (A) means a room or suite of rooms used 

8 for human habitation; and 

9 (B) includes— 

10 (i) a single family residence; 

11 (ii) each living unit of a multiple fam12 ily residence, including an apartment build13 ing; and 

14 (iii) each living unit in a mixed use 

15 building. 

16 (5) FIRE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.— 

17 The term ‘‘fire code enforcement officials’’ means of18 ficials of the fire safety code enforcement agency of 

19 a State or local government or a tribal organization. 

20 (6) NFPA 720.—The term ‘‘NFPA 720’’ 

21 means— 

22 (A) the Standard for the Installation of 

23 Carbon Monoxide Detection and Warning 

24 Equipment issued by the National Fire Protec25 tion Association in 2012; and 


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1 (B) any amended or similar successor 

2 standard relating to the proper installation of 

3 carbon monoxide alarms in dwelling units. 

4 (7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’— 

5 (A) has the meaning given the term in sec6 tion 3(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act 

7 (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)); and 

8 (B) includes— 

9 (i) the Commonwealth of the North10 ern Mariana Islands; and 

11 (ii) any political subdivision of a 

12 State. 

13 (8) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘tribal 

14 organization’’ has the meaning given the term in 

15 section 4(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and 

16 Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(l)). 

17 SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CARBON MONOXIDE POI18 SONING PREVENTION. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap20 propriations authorized under subsection (f), the Commis21 sion shall establish a grant program to provide assistance 

22 to States and tribal organizations that are eligible under 

23 subsection (b) to carry out the carbon monoxide poisoning 

24 prevention activities described in subsection (e). 


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1 (b) ELIGIBILITY.—For the purposes of this section, 

2 an eligible State or tribal organization is any State or trib3 al organization that— 

4 (1) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the 

5 Commission that the State or tribal organization has 

6 adopted a statute or a rule, regulation, or similar 

7 measure that— 

8 (A) has the force and effect of law; and 

9 (B) requires compliant carbon monoxide 

10 alarms to be installed in dwelling units in ac11 cordance with NFPA 720; and 

12 (2) submits an application— 

13 (A) to the Commission at such time, in 

14 such form, and containing such additional in15 formation as the Commission may require; and 

16 (B) that may be filed on behalf of the 

17 State or tribal organization by the fire safety 

18 code enforcement agency of that State or tribal 

19 organization. 

20 (c) GRANT AMOUNT.—The Commission shall deter21 mine the amount of each grant awarded under this sec22 tion. 

23 (d) SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS.—In select24 ing eligible States and tribal organizations for the award 

25 of grants under this section, the Commission shall give 


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1 favorable consideration to an eligible State or tribal orga2 nization that— 

3 (1) requires the installation of a compliant car4 bon monoxide alarm in a new or existing educational 

5 facility, childcare facility, health care facility, adult 

6 dependent care facility, government building, res7 taurant, theater, lodging establishment, or dwelling 

8 unit— 

9 (A) within which a fuel-burning appliance, 

10 including a furnace, boiler, water heater, fire11 place, or any other apparatus, appliance, or de12 vice that burns fuel, is installed; or 

13 (B) that has an attached garage; and 

14 (2) has developed a strategy to protect vulner15 able populations, such as children, the elderly, or 

16 low-income households, from exposure to unhealthy 

17 levels of carbon monoxide. 

18 (e) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), an 

20 eligible State or tribal organization to which a grant 

21 is awarded under this section may use the grant— 

22 (A) to purchase and install compliant car23 bon monoxide alarms in the dwelling units of 

24 low-income families or elderly individuals, facili25 ties that commonly serve children or the elderly 


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1 (including childcare facilities, public schools, 

2 and senior centers), or student dwelling units 

3 owned by public universities; 

4 (B) to train State, tribal organization, or 

5 local fire code enforcement officials in the prop6 er enforcement of State, tribal, or local laws re7 garding compliant carbon monoxide alarms and 

8 the installation of those alarms in accordance 

9 with NFPA 720; 

10 (C) for the development and dissemination 

11 of training materials, instructors, and any other 

12 costs relating to the training sessions author13 ized under this subsection; or 

14 (D) to educate the public about— 

15 (i) the risk associated with carbon 

16 monoxide as a poison; and 

17 (ii) the importance of proper carbon 

18 monoxide alarm use. 

19 (2) LIMITATIONS.— 

20 (A) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—An eligible 

21 State or tribal organization to which a grant is 

22 awarded under this section may use not more 

23 than 5 percent of the grant amount to cover ad24 ministrative costs that are not directly related 

25 to training described in paragraph (1)(B). 


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1 (B) PUBLIC OUTREACH.—An eligible State 

2 or tribal organization to which a grant is 

3 awarded under this section may use not more 

4 than 25 percent of the grant amount to cover 

5 the costs of activities described in paragraph 

6 (1)(D). 

7 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 

9 there is authorized to be appropriated to the Com10 mission, for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, 

11 $2,000,000 to carry out this Act, which shall remain 

12 available until expended. 

13 (2) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EX14 PENSES.—In a fiscal year, not more than 10 percent 

15 of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made 

16 available to carry out this Act may be used for ad17 ministrative expenses. 

18 (3) RETENTION OF AMOUNTS.—Any amounts 

19 appropriated under this subsection that remain un20 expended and unobligated on September 30, 2023, 

21 shall be retained by the Commission and credited to 

22 the appropriations account that funds the enforce23 ment of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 

24 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.). 


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1 (g) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the last 

2 day of each fiscal year in which grants are awarded under 

3 this section, the Commission shall submit to Congress a 

4 report that evaluates the implementation of the grant pro5 gram required under this section. 

6 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

7 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Nicholas and Zachary 

8 Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act 

9 of 2019’’. 

10 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

11 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

12 (1) Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas 

13 produced by burning any fuel. Exposure to unhealthy 

14 levels of carbon monoxide can lead to carbon mon15 oxide poisoning, a serious health condition that could 

16 result in death. 

17 (2) Unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning 

18 from motor vehicles and improper operation of fuel19 burning appliances, such as furnaces, water heaters, 

20 portable generators, and stoves, annually kills more 

21 than 400 individuals and sends approximately 15,000 

22 individuals to hospital emergency rooms for treat23 ment. 

24 (3) Research shows that installing carbon mon25 oxide alarms close to the sleeping areas in residential 


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1 homes and other dwelling units can help avoid fatali2 ties. 

3 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

4 that Congress should promote the installation of carbon 

5 monoxide alarms in residential homes and dwelling units 

6 across the United States in order to promote the health and 

7 public safety of citizens throughout the United States. 

8 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

9 In this Act: 

10 (1) CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM.—The term ‘‘car11 bon monoxide alarm’’ means a device or system 

12 that— 

13 (A) detects carbon monoxide; and 

14 (B) is intended to sound an alarm at a car15 bon monoxide concentration below a concentra16 tion that could cause a loss of the ability to react 

17 to the dangers of carbon monoxide exposure. 

18 (2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

19 means the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

20 (3) COMPLIANT CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM.—The 

21 term ‘‘compliant carbon monoxide alarm’’ means a 

22 carbon monoxide alarm that complies with the most 

23 current version of— 

24 (A) the Standard for Single and Multiple 

25 Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms of the AmerVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 Sep 08, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S481.RS S481

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1 ican National Standards Institute and UL 

2 (ANSI/UL 2034), or any successor standard; and 

3 (B) the Standard for Gas and Vapor Detec4 tors and Sensors of the American National 

5 Standards Institute and UL (ANSI/UL 2075), 

6 or any successor standard. 

7 (4) DWELLING UNIT.—The term ‘‘dwelling 

8 unit’’— 

9 (A) means a room or suite of rooms used for 

10 human habitation; and 

11 (B) includes— 

12 (i) a single family residence; 

13 (ii) each living unit of a multiple fam14 ily residence, including an apartment 

15 building; and 

16 (iii) each living unit in a mixed use 

17 building. 

18 (5) FIRE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.—The 

19 term ‘‘fire code enforcement officials’’ means officials 

20 of the fire safety code enforcement agency of a State 

21 or local government or a Tribal organization. 

22 (6) INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE.—The term 

23 ‘‘IFC’’ means— 


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1 (A) the 2015 or 2018 edition of the Inter2 national Fire Code published by the Inter3 national Code Council; or 

4 (B) any amended or similar successor code 

5 pertaining to the proper installation of carbon 

6 monoxide alarms in dwelling units. 

7 (7) INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE.—The 

8 term ‘‘IRC’’ means— 

9 (A) the 2015 or 2018 edition of the Inter10 national Residential Code published by the 

11 International Code Council; or 

12 (B) any amended or similar successor code 

13 pertaining to the proper installation of carbon 

14 monoxide alarms in dwelling units. 

15 (8) NFPA 720.—The term ‘‘NFPA 720’’ means— 

16 (A) the Standard for the Installation of 

17 Carbon Monoxide Detection and Warning 

18 Equipment issued by the National Fire Protec19 tion Association in 2012; and 

20 (B) any amended or similar successor 

21 standard relating to the proper installation of 

22 carbon monoxide alarms in dwelling units. 

23 (9) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’— 


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1 (A) has the meaning given the term in sec2 tion 3(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act 

3 (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)); and 

4 (B) includes— 

5 (i) the Commonwealth of the Northern 

6 Mariana Islands; and 

7 (ii) any political subdivision of a 

8 State. 

9 (10) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘Tribal 

10 organization’’ has the meaning given the term in sec11 tion 4(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu12 cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(l)). 

13 SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CARBON MONOXIDE POI14 SONING PREVENTION. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of appro16 priations authorized under subsection (f), the Commission 

17 shall establish a grant program to provide assistance to 

18 States and Tribal organizations that are eligible under sub19 section (b) to carry out the carbon monoxide poisoning pre20 vention activities described in subsection (e). 

21 (b) ELIGIBILITY.—For the purposes of this section, an 

22 eligible State or Tribal organization is any State or Tribal 

23 organization that— 

24 (1) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Com25 mission that the State or Tribal organization has 


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1 adopted a statute or a rule, regulation, or similar 

2 measure with the force and effect of law, requiring 

3 compliant carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in 

4 dwelling units in accordance with NFPA 72, the IFC, 

5 or the IRC; and 

6 (2) submits an application— 

7 (A) to the Commission at such time, in such 

8 form, and containing such additional informa9 tion as the Commission may require; and 

10 (B) that may be filed on behalf of the State 

11 or Tribal organization by the fire safety code en12 forcement agency of that State or Tribal organi13 zation. 

14 (c) GRANT AMOUNT.—The Commission shall deter15 mine the amount of each grant awarded under this section. 

16 (d) SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS.—In selecting 

17 eligible States and Tribal organizations for the award of 

18 grants under this section, the Commission shall give favor19 able consideration to an eligible State or Tribal organiza20 tion that— 

21 (1) requires the installation of a compliant car22 bon monoxide alarm in a new or existing educational 

23 facility, childcare facility, health care facility, adult 

24 dependent care facility, government building, resVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 Sep 08, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S481.RS S481

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1 taurant, theater, lodging establishment, or dwelling 

2 unit— 

3 (A) within which a fuel-burning appliance, 

4 including a furnace, boiler, water heater, fire5 place, or any other apparatus, appliance, or de6 vice that burns fuel, is installed; or 

7 (B) that has an attached garage; and 

8 (2) has developed a strategy to protect vulnerable 

9 populations, such as children, the elderly, or low-in10 come households, from exposure to unhealthy levels of 

11 carbon monoxide. 

12 (e) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), an 

14 eligible State or Tribal organization to which a grant 

15 is awarded under this section may use the grant— 

16 (A) to purchase and install compliant car17 bon monoxide alarms in the dwelling units of 

18 low-income families or elderly individuals, facili19 ties that commonly serve children or the elderly 

20 (including childcare facilities, public schools, 

21 and senior centers), or student dwelling units 

22 owned by public universities; 

23 (B) to train State, Tribal organization, or 

24 local fire code enforcement officials in the proper 

25 enforcement of State, Tribal, or local laws reVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 Sep 08, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S481.RS S481

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1 garding compliant carbon monoxide alarms and 

2 the installation of those alarms in accordance 

3 with NFPA 720, the IFC, or the IRC; 

4 (C) for the development and dissemination 

5 of training materials, instructors, and any other 

6 costs relating to the training sessions authorized 

7 under this subsection; or 

8 (D) to educate the public about— 

9 (i) the risk associated with carbon 

10 monoxide as a poison; and 

11 (ii) the importance of proper carbon 

12 monoxide alarm use. 

13 (2) LIMITATIONS.— 

14 (A) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—An eligible 

15 State or Tribal organization to which a grant is 

16 awarded under this section may use not more 

17 than 5 percent of the grant amount to cover ad18 ministrative costs that are not directly related to 

19 training described in paragraph (1)(B). 

20 (B) PUBLIC OUTREACH.—An eligible State 

21 or Tribal organization to which a grant is 

22 awarded under this section may use not more 

23 than 25 percent of the grant amount to cover the 

24 costs of activities described in paragraph (1)(D). 


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1 (C) STATE CONTRIBUTIONS.—An eligible 

2 State to which a grant is awarded under this 

3 section shall, with respect to the costs incurred 

4 by the State in carrying out activities under the 

5 grant, provide non-Federal contributions in an 

6 amount equal to not less than 20 percent of 

7 amount of Federal funds provided under the 

8 grant to administer the program. This subpara9 graph shall not apply to Tribal organizations. 

10 (f) FUNDING.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall carry 

12 out this Act using amounts appropriated to the Com13 mission for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024, to 

14 extent such funds are available. 

15 (2) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EX16 PENSES.—In a fiscal year, not more than 10 percent 

17 of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made avail18 able to carry out this Act may be used for adminis19 trative expenses. 

20 (g) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the last day 

21 of each fiscal year in which grants are awarded under this 

22 section, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report 

23 that evaluates the implementation of the grant program re24 quired under this section. 


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Calendar No. 524 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 481 

[Report No. 116–261] 

A BILL 

To encourage States to require the installation of 

and for other purposes. residential carbon monoxide detectors in homes, 

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 

Reported with an amendment 


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