An Act To Improve the Law Concerning Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1476
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: DIAMOND, MAREAN, BATTLE, HARRINGTON, ORDWAY
Amends: 25 MRSA §2468

Legislative Document 
No. 1476 
S.P. 574 
In Senate, December 18, 2015 
An Act To Improve the Law Concerning Carbon Monoxide 
Detectors 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 18, 2015.  Referred to the Committee 
on Criminal Justice and Public Safety pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator DIAMOND of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative MAREAN of Hollis and 
Representatives: BATTLE of South Portland, HARRINGTON of Sanford, ORDWAY of 
Standish. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect as soon as possible in order to 
minimize confusion and expense for building owners and educational facilities; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA §2468, sub-§2, ¶A, as amended by PL 2015, c. 375, §2 and 
affected by §5, is further amended to read: 
A.  Each unit in any building of multifamily occupancy; a fraternity house, sorority 
house or dormitory that is affiliated with an educational facility; a children's home, 
emergency children's shelter, children's residential care facility, shelter for homeless 
children or specialized children's home as defined in Title 22, section 8101; or a 
hotel, motel, inn or bed and breakfast licensed as an eating and lodging place or a 
lodging place under Title 22, chapter 562.  The owner shall use a carbon monoxide 
detector that is powered by: 
(1)  Both the electrical service in the building and a battery; or 
(2)  A nonreplaceable 10-year battery except that a battery-powered carbon 
monoxide detector need not be powered by a nonreplaceable 10-year battery if it 
uses a low-power radio frequency wireless communication signal, uses multiple 
sensors, has low-frequency audible notification capability or is connected to a 
control panel; 
Sec. 2.  25 MRSA §2468, sub-§11, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 375, §3 and 
affected by §5, is amended to read: 
B.  A nonreplaceable 10-year battery except that a battery-powered carbon monoxide 
detector need not be powered by a nonreplaceable 10-year battery if it uses a low-
power radio frequency wireless communication signal, uses multiple sensors, has 
low-frequency audible notification capability or is connected to a control panel. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
Under current law, carbon monoxide detectors required to be installed in educational 
facilities and units of multifamily dwellings; fraternity houses, sorority houses and 
dormitories affiliated with educational facilities; children's homes, shelters and residential 
care facilities licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services; and eating and 
lodging places must be powered either by the electrical service in the building and a 
battery or by a nonreplaceable 10-year battery.  This bill allows a carbon monoxide 
detector installed in such a building to be powered by a battery other than a 
nonreplaceable 10-year battery if the detector uses a low-power radio frequency wireless 
communication signal or multiple sensors, has low-frequency audible notification 
capability or is connected to a control panel.