Bill Text: NJ A418 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires motion sensor light switches in State buildings.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee [A418 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A418-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman SCOTT T. RUMANA
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Coyle
SYNOPSIS
Requires motion sensor light switches in State buildings.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act requiring the use of motion sensors for light switches in State buildings and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Within two years after the date of enactment of this act, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury, the Director of the Division of Property Management and Construction in the Department of the Treasury, or any State agency having authority to contract for the purchase of goods or services, as appropriate, shall, whenever possible and when safety and security would not be jeopardized, replace light switches, used in buildings owned by the State, with motion sensor light switches in rooms or corridors of occasional or intermittent usage, including hallways, public rest rooms, conference or committee rooms, auditoriums, storage facilities, special-use rooms, and parking garages, as appropriate.
b. Commencing two years after the date of enactment of this act, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury, the Director of the Division of Property Management and Construction in the Department of the Treasury, or any State agency having authority to contract for the purchase of goods or services, as appropriate, shall, to the maximum extent practicable without jeopardizing the safety or security of people or property, purchase motion sensor light switches for use in rooms or corridors with occasional or intermittent usage in buildings owned by the State, including hallways, public rest rooms, conference or committee rooms, auditoriums, storage facilities, special-use rooms, and parking garages.
c. As used in this section, "motion sensor light switch" means a light switch with an occupancy sensor that detects and responds to the presence or absence of people and includes: infrared technology or Passive Infrared (PIR), which reacts to infrared heat energy emitted by people; ultrasonic technology, which emits ultrasonic waves to sense motion by the frequency of reflected waves; and other sensor technologies, such as hybrid occupant sensors that employ multiple sensor technologies, audible sensor technology that responds to noise, or microwave technology.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the State to purchase and replace motion sensor light switches for use in rooms or corridors with occasional or intermittent usage in State owned buildings.
By switching to motion sensor light switches in areas of intermittent usage, such as hallways, public rest rooms, conference or committee rooms, auditoriums, storage facilities, special-use rooms, and parking garages, the State will be saving energy and money.
Motion sensor light switches have an occupancy sensor that detects and responds to the presence or absence of people. Many varieties of motion sensor technology exist, including infrared technology or Passive Infrared (PIR), which reacts to infrared heat energy emitted by people, ultrasonic technology, which emits ultrasonic waves to sense motion by the frequency of reflected waves, hybrid occupant sensors that employ multiple sensor technologies, audible sensor technology that responds to noise, and microwave technology. Hybrid occupant sensors have great accuracy, as there is minimal false triggering due to the simultaneous operation of both infrared and ultrasonic capabilities for a "see and hear" detection method. Motion sensor light switches commonly have a time-delay feature, so when a person exits a room the lights turn off after a pre-set time interval, and the degree of motion sensitivity is also adjustable. Motion sensor light switches have an average 12 to 15 year life span, compared to control units which have an estimated life expectancy of between six and 10 years.
