Bill Text: CA AB645 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Dwelling safety: smoke detectors.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-03 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB645 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AB645-Introduced.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 645	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Torres

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2013

   An act to amend Section 13114 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to dwelling safety.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 645, as introduced, Torres. Dwelling safety: smoke detectors.
   Existing law prohibits a person from marketing, distributing,
offering for sale, or selling a fire alarm system or fire alarm
device in this state unless the system or device has been approved
and listed by the State Fire Marshal. Existing law, commencing
January 1, 2014, requires a smoke alarm to have certain features,
including a feature that provides notice that the device needs to be
replaced, in order to be approved and listed by the State Fire
Marshal.
   This bill would delete this requirement and would extend to
January 1, 2015, the date by which smoke detectors need to have
certain features to be approved and listed.
   Existing law authorizes the State Fire Marshal to suspend
enforcement of these requirements for not to exceed 6 months if
certain conditions exist.
   This bill would delete this authorization.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 13114 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   13114.  (a) The State Fire Marshal, with the advice of the State
Board of Fire Services, shall adopt regulations and standards as
 he or she   the marshal  may determine to
be necessary to control the quality and installation of fire alarm
systems and fire alarm devices marketed, distributed, offered for
sale, or sold in this state.
   (b) (1)  No   A  person shall  not
 market, distribute, offer for sale, or sell any fire alarm
system or fire alarm device in this state unless the system or device
has been approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal.
   (2) (A) Commencing January 1,  2014   2015
 , in order to be approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal,
a smoke alarm shall display the date of manufacture on the device,
provide a place on the device where the date of installation can be
written, incorporate a hush feature,  incorporate an
end-of-life feature that provides notice that the device needs to be
replaced,  and, if battery operated, contain a
nonreplaceable, nonremovable battery that is capable of powering the
smoke alarm for a minimum of 10 years.
   (B) The State Fire Marshal shall have the authority to create
exceptions to this paragraph through its regulatory process. The
exceptions that may be considered as part of the regulatory process
shall include, but are not limited to, fire alarm systems with smoke
detectors, fire alarm devices that connect to a panel, or other
devices that use a low-power radio frequency wireless communication
signal.
   (3) The State Fire Marshal shall approve the manufacturer's
instructions for each smoke alarm and shall ensure that the
instructions are consistent with current building standard
requirements for the location and placement of smoke alarms. 

   (4) If the State Fire Marshal determines that a sufficient amount
of tested and approved smoke alarms are not available to property
owners to meet the requirements of this article as of January 1,
2014, the State Fire Marshal may suspend enforcement of the
requirements described in paragraph (2) for a period not to exceed
six months. If the State Fire Marshal elects to suspend enforcement
of these requirements, the department shall notify the Secretary of
State of its decision and shall post a public notice that describes
its finding and decision on its Internet Web site.