| Sponsor | Rep. Matheson, Jim |
| Date | July 27, 2010 (111th Congress, 2nd Session) |
| Staff Contact | Brian McManus |
H.R. 1796 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on July 27, 2010, under suspensions of the rules, which requires two-thirds vote. Rep. Matheson (D-UT) introduced H.R. 1796 on March 30, 2009, and it was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. On July 15, 2010, the Committee reported H.R. 1796 by voice vote.
H.R 1796 amends the Consumer Product Safety Act: (1) to require residential carbon monoxide detectors to meet the applicable ANSI/UL standard by treating that standard as consumer product safety rule and (2) to create a grant program for states, which will encourage states to require the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in homes.
Within 90 days after enactment of H.R. 1796, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shall publish in the Federal Register as a mandatory consumer product safety standard the American National Standard for Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms (American National Standard ANSI/UL 2034-2005). The standard shall take effect 180 days after it is published.
One year after enactment of H.R. 1796, product packaging must identify its conformance with the new standards, and within six months of enactment, the CPSC shall promulgate consumer safety rules, which include warning labels, an instruction manual, and pictogram.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission shall establish a grant program for states to carry out a carbon monoxide alarm program, which may include training fire code enforcement officials. Eligible states must have passed a law, or a regulation that has the force and effect of law, that requires the installation of carbon monoxide alarms in all commercial residential units and all new dwelling unit construction. Any law or regulation must include penalties for not including carbon monoxide detectors.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning any fuel, and according to the Congressional findings, carbon monoxide poisoning in residents kills at least 500 people each year and sends more than 20,000 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment.
CBO has not released a score of this bill as of press time, but the bill authorizes to be appropriated $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Any amounts appropriated that are not spent and obligated at the end of fiscal year 2014 shall be retained by the Commission and credited to the appropriations account that funds enforcement of the Consumer Products Safety Act.