NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7433A
SPONSOR: Crespo TITLE OF BILL: An act directing the state education department to
conduct a study concerning the cost of installing hard-wired carbon
monoxide detectors in each instructional school facility in public
school districts and boards of cooperative educational services
PURPOSE:
To protect the health and safety of elementary and secondary school
students by requiring a study on the cost of installation of carbon
monoxide detectors in all public school buildings used for k12 instruc-
tion in New York State.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Requires the State Education Department to conduct a study on
the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in every public elementary
and secondary school in New York State no later than July 31 of 2014.
The manufacturing, design and installation standards for this section
shall be what have been established by the State Fire Prevention and
Building Code Council.
EXISTING LAW:
Since 2010, one and two-family homes, and apartments in multiple dwell-
ings such as condominiums are required to be equipped with carbon monox-
ide detectors, school buildings are not currently subject to any such
requirement.
JUSTIFICATION:
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas which can cause
nausea, headaches and dizziness. If it is allowed to build up in
enclosed spaces, it can be deadly, Carbon monoxide detectors represent
an inexpensive and effective way to protect against carbon monoxide
poisoning, especially in all children, who unlike adults, have higher
respiratory rates until they reach adulthood.
Currently, school buildings first occupied on or after January 31, 2007
have to be so equipped with CO detectors when they opened. However, New
York State has over 4,200 public school building constructed prior to
2007. These schools house over 3 million school-age children daily
during every academic school year. All these schools operate on fossil
fuels which produce CO as a byproduct of combustion.
Every year, some 500 American die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning
and over 15,000 have to be treated for CO poisoning. More needs to be
done to protect children from such exposure while in school.
As with smoke detectors/,ire alarms many years ago, carbon monoxide
detectors have earned the respect of the fire service as a valuable tool
in the saving of lives. Everyone recognizes that carbon monoxide kills
if not responded to immediately. The most serious quality of CO2 is
that, unlike smoke, it is virtually undetectable, even when someone is
awake and alert.
The Legislature recently recognized the value of these devices by
requiring their installation in one and two-family homes and apartments
in multiple dwellings. However, carbon monoxide detectors are not
currently required in school buildings. This bill calls on the State
Fire Prevention and Building Code Council to establish criteria for
carbon monoxide detectors to be installed in every elementary and
secondary school building in New York State where heating equipment or
other factors pose a substantial risk of exposure to carbon monoxide.
The study and required recommendations from SED on the installation of
CO detectors will help to ensure that the buildings our students attend
are made safer without imposing any burdensome costs on school
districts.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
