Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced on July 18 the “Carbon Monoxide Alarms Leading Every Resident to Safety Act (CO ALERTS Act),” to help protect residents of federally assisted housing from carbon monoxide poisoning. The bill was introduced in response to the deaths of 13 public housing residents from the toxic gas since 2003.
If enacted, the bill would require carbon monoxide alarms in federally assisted homes that have potential carbon monoxide sources, such as gas-fired appliances, fireplaces, forced-air furnaces, and attached garages. The bill directs HUD to provide guidance to public housing agencies on how to educate tenants on health hazards in the home, including carbon monoxide poisoning and lead poisoning, and it instructs HUD to conduct a public study with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on requiring carbon monoxide alarms in housing not covered by the International Fire Code.
The House Financial Services Committee unanimously approved in June a separate bill requiring carbon monoxide detectors in public housing. That bill was introduced by Representative Chuy Garcia (D-IL).
Read the CO ALERTS Act of 2019 at: https://tinyurl.com/y2fyrvb2
Read Senator Scott’s press release at: https://tinyurl.com/y4fsznt4