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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to consumer protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to certain smoke detecting devices
In Assembly Committee · Rules · Sponsor Joseph Morelle
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S7771
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to certain smoke detecting devices
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation provides that battery operated smoke detectors within homes have batteries that are non-replaceable, non-removable and will power the device for a minimum of ten years.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 adds a new section 399-ccc sub-section 1 that makes it unlawful for any person to distribute, sell, offer for sale, install or import any smoke detecting device, which is battery operated and is not powered by a battery that is non-replaceable, non-removable and capable of powering the device for a minimum of ten years.
Sub-section 2 requires that the product packaging include the manufacturer's name or registered trademark and model number and state that the battery has a minimum life of 10 years.
Sub-section 3 provision of this section shall not apply to smoke detecting devices which have been ordered by, or are in inventory of owners, managing agents, contractors wholesalers or retailers on or before the effective date. Also applies to devices which receive their power from the electrical system of a building, fire alarm systems with smoke detectors, fire alarm devices that connect to a panel or other devices with low-power radio frequency wireless communication signal.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
New York State first required smoke alarms in homes in 1961 and as a result fire deaths have since been cut in half. Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing.fire deaths and injuries. Yet the data clearly shows that most fire deaths today happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working alarms.
Rending a smoke alarm inoperable by tampering with the alarm, removing its batteries or failing to change its batteries can result in deadly consequences. In the Consumer Products Safety Commission's National Smoke Detector Project, 32% of consumers disable their smoke alarm when they experienced unwanted alarm activation from such sources as cooking, steam, cigarettes, dust or low battery chirps.
Long life, tamper resistant smoke alarms go to the core of addressing disablement and failed maintenance by consumers, and do so in a cost effective way. In recent years advancements have led to smoke alarms that today prevent consumer tampering and that can power the alarm for a minimum of ten years, as these alarms have become more available and affordable, requiring the replacement of existing battery operated smoke alarms with this more maintenance-free alarms will drive down fire deaths and injuries.
Prior legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on January 1, 2016; provided however, that effective immediately, all actions and procedures with respect to the proposed adoption, amendment, suspension or repeal of any rule or regulation for timely implementation of this act are directed and authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.