Bill Text: NJ S3674 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires Division of Fire Safety to annually distribute smoke alarms; appropriates $1 million.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [S3674 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3674-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator BRIAN P. STACK
District 33 (Hudson)
Senator RONALD L. RICE
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Division of Fire Safety to annually distribute smoke alarms; appropriates $1 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning smoke alarms, supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs a program to annually distribute new smoke-sensitive alarm devices, at no charge, to seniors, persons with a disability, and low-income persons.
b. (1) In the first year next following the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the division shall distribute 50,000 smoke-sensitive alarm devices through the program established by subsection a. of this section.
(2) In each subsequent year during the 10-year period next following the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the number of smoke-sensitive alarm devices distributed through the program shall increase by 10,000 over the number distributed in the prior year. For each year after the 10-year period, the number of smoke-sensitive alarm devices distributed through the program shall remain the same as the last year of that period.
c. The division may accept donations of suitable new smoke-sensitive alarm devices, and funds to purchase these devices, for distribution through the program.
d. As used in this section:
"Low-income person" means an individual or family whose gross annual income is at or below the official poverty line as determined by the Director of the federal Office of Management and Budget.
"Person with a disability" means a person having an impairment which is expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration and substantially impedes the person's ability to live independently unless the person receives supportive services.
"Senior" means any person 62 years of age or older.
2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs $1 million to fund the program established by section 1 of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish a program in the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs to annually distribute smoke alarms, at no charge, to seniors, persons with a disability, and low-income persons. This program would help protect the State's most vulnerable residents from fire-related injuries and deaths.
In the first year of the program, 50,000 smoke alarms would be distributed. In each subsequent year during the 10-year period following the bill's effective date, the number of smoke alarms distributed would increase to 10,000 over the number distributed in the prior year. For each year after the 10-year period, the number of smoke alarms distributed would remain the same as the last year of that period. The division would be permitted to accept donations to supply smoke alarms for distribution through the program.
The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to support the smoke alarm distribution program.
