What's happening
This bill requires New York's building code council to mandate radon-resistant features in all newly constructed homes.
Why it matters
Addresses a major health risk. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate in homes and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Mandating radon-resistant features helps prevent exposure, especially in high-risk areas.
May increase initial construction costs but reduce long-term health expenses. While builders may face higher upfront costs to install radon-resistant systems, homeowners could benefit from lower future remediation expenses and reduced healthcare costs related to radon exposure.
Promotes uniform public health standards. By requiring the code council to set statewide regulations, the bill ensures all new homes meet minimum radon safety standards, closing gaps that may exist in local building codes and protecting residents across New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Radon-Safe New Homes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1010
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BRESLIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT requiring the state fire prevention and building code council to implement rules and regulations regarding radon-resistant features in newly constructed homes
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The state fire prevention and building code council is hereby directed to implement rules and regulations requiring the use of radon-resistant features in new home construction.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05929-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act requiring the state fire prevention and building code council to implement rules and regulations regarding radon-resistant features in newly constructed homes
Purpose
To require new homebuilders to use radon resistant features when build- ing new homes.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 directs the state fire prevention and building code council to develop and implement rules and regulations concerning the use of radon resistant building features in new home construction.
Justification
Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, which is omitted from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. This gas typi- cally moves through the ground and seeps into homes through tiny cracks or holes in the foundation. Any home, new or old can have a radon prob- lem, and homes across the country have been found to have high levels of radon. In 2005, the Surgeon General of the United States issued a Health Advisory warning Americans about the health risk of exposure to radon in indoor air. Recent studies done by the EPA have found that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States has an unsafe level of radon. Radon has been proven to cause many health related problems, and is now the second leading cause of lung cancer and is estimated to account for more than 20,000 deaths per year.
Banks require that a home inspection be done by a licensed home inspec- tor prior to approving a mortgage for an existing home sale, and part of that inspection is a radon test. Many people who build new homes have owned homes before, and may assume that some type of radon testing is done by the builder, however there are no such requirements for radon inspections for new home mortgages. Because it takes time for radon to penetrate into the home, testing for radon in a newly constructed home would be ineffective. Therefore, the easiest and most cost effective way to ensure that radon never becomes a problem, is to take preventative measures in the new home construction process. When these steps are employed during the building process, it costs as little as a few hundred dollars; as opposed to having to vent out the house later on, which can cost thousands. Standards and recommendations for the use of radon resistant features in building new homes have already been devel- oped by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Legislative history
2017/2018 - S. 2208 Referred to Housing, Construction and Community Development
2015/2016 - S.1333 Referred to Housing, Construction and Community Development
2013/2014 - S. 1149 Referred to Senate Housing Committee
2011/2012 - S.1162/A.897 Remained in the Senate Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development and the Assembly Committee on Governmental Operations
2009/2010 - S.401/A.1033 Remained in the Senate Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development and the Assembly Committee on Governmental Operations
2007/2008 - S.717/A.9669 Remained in the Senate Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development and the Assembly Committee on Governmental Operations
2005/2006 - S.4607 Remained in the Senate Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.