Florida Senate - 2021                                    SB 1524
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       39-01490A-21                                          20211524__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to carbon monoxide alarms; creating s.
    3         559.953, F.S.; defining the terms “carbon monoxide
    4         alarm” and “generator”; providing legislative
    5         findings; requiring a person providing a generator in
    6         a transaction to sell, lease, or rent the generator to
    7         also include a carbon monoxide alarm in such
    8         transaction and recommend that the buyer, lessee, or
    9         renter use the alarm while the generator is in use;
   10         providing an effective date.
   11  
   12         WHEREAS, between 2008 and 2018, more than 25.3 million
   13  residents of this state experienced power outages, more than any
   14  other state during the same timeframe, and residents of this
   15  state are frequently subject to severe and tropical weather
   16  systems that often result in power outages, and
   17         WHEREAS, gas-powered generators are a popular source of
   18  alternate power during power outages, but these generators
   19  produce carbon monoxide, and exposure to carbon monoxide can
   20  cause severe health issues or death, and
   21         WHEREAS, research shows that the use of carbon monoxide
   22  alarms helps increase the detection of potentially hazardous
   23  carbon monoxide levels and reduces the risks associated with
   24  carbon monoxide exposure, NOW, THEREFORE,
   25  
   26  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   27  
   28         Section 1. Section 559.953, Florida Statutes, is created to
   29  read:
   30         559.953 Carbon monoxide alarms required for generator
   31  transactions.—
   32         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   33         (a) “Carbon monoxide alarm” means a device or system that
   34  is meant for the purpose of detecting carbon monoxide, that
   35  produces a distinct audible alarm, and that is compliant with:
   36         1. The American National Standard for Single and Multiple
   37  Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms (ANSI/UL 2034); or
   38         2. The American National Standard for Gas and Vapor
   39  Detectors and Sensors (ANSI/UL 2075).
   40         (b) “Generator” means any new or used gas-powered
   41  generator, regardless of whether the generator is permanently
   42  installed or portable.
   43         (2) The Legislature finds that there is a need to require a
   44  carbon monoxide alarm to be included with the sale, lease, or
   45  rental of any generator to protect the health and safety of the
   46  residents of this state who use generators as an alternative
   47  source of power during power outages.
   48         (3) In a transaction for the sale, lease, or rental of a
   49  generator, the person providing the generator in the transaction
   50  must include a carbon monoxide alarm in the transaction and
   51  recommend that the buyer, lessee, or renter use the carbon
   52  monoxide alarm while the generator is in use.
   53         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.