Bill Text: NC S927 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Rental Property/Lithium Battery Smoke Alarms
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-30 - Ref To Com On Commerce [S927 Detail]
Download: North_Carolina-2011-S927-Amended.html
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2011
S 1
SENATE BILL 927
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Short Title: Rental Property/Lithium Battery Smoke Alarms. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
Senator Bingham (Primary Sponsor). |
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Referred to: |
Commerce. |
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May 30, 2012
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT providing that after december 31, 2012, landlords shall, when installing a new smoke alarm or replacing an existing smoke alarm, install a TAMPER‑RESISTANT, ten‑year lithium battery smoke alarm except in certain cases, and providing that landlords may deduct from the tenant security deposit damage to a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide alarm, as recommended by the north carolina child fatality task force.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 42‑42 reads as rewritten:
"§ 42‑42. Landlord to provide fit premises.
(a) The landlord shall:
…
(5) Provide operable smoke detectors,alarms,
either battery‑operated or electrical, having an Underwriters'
Laboratories, Inc., listing or other equivalent national testing laboratory
approval, and install the smoke detectors alarms in accordance
with either the standards of the National Fire Protection Association or the
minimum protection designated in the manufacturer's instructions, which the
landlord shall retain or provide as proof of compliance. The landlord shall
replace or repair the smoke detectors alarms within 15 days of
receipt of notification if the landlord is notified of needed replacement or
repairs in writing by the tenant. The landlord shall ensure that a smoke detector
alarm is operable and in good repair at the beginning of each
tenancy. Unless the landlord and the tenant have a written agreement to the
contrary, the landlord shall place new batteries in a battery‑operated
smoke detector alarm at the beginning of a tenancy and the tenant
shall replace the batteries as needed during the tenancy.tenancy,
except where the smoke alarm is a tamper‑resistant, 10‑year lithium
battery smoke alarm as required by subdivision (5a) of this subsection.
Failure of the tenant to replace the batteries as needed shall not be
considered as negligence on the part of the tenant or the landlord.
(5a) After December 31, 2012, when installing a new smoke alarm or replacing an existing smoke alarm, install a tamper-resistant, 10‑year lithium battery smoke alarm. However, the landlord shall not be required to install a tamper-resistant, 10‑year lithium battery smoke alarm as required by this subdivision in either of the following circumstances:a. The dwelling unit is equipped with a hardwired smoke alarm with a battery backup.
b. The dwelling unit is equipped with a smoke alarm combined with a carbon monoxide alarm that meets the requirements provided in subdivision (7) of this subsection.
…
(7) Provide a minimum of one operable carbon monoxide detector
alarm per rental unit per level, either battery‑operated or
electrical, that is listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory that
is OSHA‑approved to test and certify to American National Standards
Institute/Underwriters Laboratories Standards ANSI/UL2034 or ANSI/UL2075, and
install the carbon monoxide detectors alarms in accordance with
either the standards of the National Fire Protection Association or the minimum
protection designated in the manufacturer's instructions, which the landlord
shall retain or provide as proof of compliance. A landlord that installs one
carbon monoxide detector alarm per rental unit per level shall be
deemed to be in compliance with standards under this subdivision covering the
location and number of detectors.alarms. The landlord shall
replace or repair the carbon monoxide detectors alarms within 15
days of receipt of notification if the landlord is notified of needed
replacement or repairs in writing by the tenant. The landlord shall ensure that
a carbon monoxide detector alarm is operable and in good repair
at the beginning of each tenancy. Unless the landlord and the tenant have a
written agreement to the contrary, the landlord shall place new batteries in a
battery‑operated carbon monoxide detector alarm at the
beginning of a tenancy, and the tenant shall replace the batteries as needed
during the tenancy. Failure of the tenant to replace the batteries as needed
shall not be considered as negligence on the part of the tenant or the
landlord. A carbon monoxide detector alarm may be combined with
smoke detectors alarms if the combined detector alarm does
both of the following: (i) complies with ANSI/UL2034 or ANSI/UL2075 for carbon
monoxide alarms and ANSI/UL217 for smoke detectors;alarms; and
(ii) emits an alarm in a manner that clearly differentiates between detecting
the presence of carbon monoxide and the presence of smoke. This subdivision
applies only to dwelling units having a fossil‑fuel burning heater,
appliance, or fireplace, and in any dwelling unit having an attached garage.
Any operable carbon monoxide detector alarm installed before
January 1, 2010, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this subdivision.
…."
SECTION 2. G.S. 42‑43 reads as rewritten:
"§ 42‑43. Tenant to maintain dwelling unit.
(a) The tenant shall:
…
(4) Not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface,
damage, or remove any part of the premises, nor render inoperable the smoke detector
alarm or carbon monoxide detector alarm provided by
the landlord, or knowingly permit any person to do so.
…
(7) Notify the landlord, in writing, of the need for
replacement of or repairs to a smoke detector alarm or carbon
monoxide detector.alarm. The landlord shall ensure that a smoke detector
alarm and carbon monoxide detector alarm are operable
and in good repair at the beginning of each tenancy. Unless the landlord and
the tenant have a written agreement to the contrary, the landlord shall place
new batteries in a battery‑operated smoke detector alarm and
battery‑operated carbon monoxide detector alarm at the
beginning of a tenancy and the tenant shall replace the batteries as needed
during the tenancy.tenancy, except where the smoke alarm is a tamper‑resistant,
10‑year lithium battery smoke alarm as required by G.S. 42‑42(a)(5a).
Failure of the tenant to replace the batteries as needed shall not be
considered as negligence on the part of the tenant or the landlord.
…."
SECTION 3. G.S. 42‑44 reads as rewritten:
"§ 42‑44. General remedies, penalties, and limitations.
…
(a1) If a landlord fails to provide, install, replace,
or repair a smoke detector alarm under the provisions of G.S. 42‑42(a)(5)
or G.S. 42‑42(a)(5a) or to provide, install, replace, or
repair a carbon monoxide detector alarm under the provisions
of G.S. 42‑42(a)(7) within 30 days of having received written notice
from the tenant or any agent of State or local government of the landlord's
failure to do so, the landlord shall be responsible for an infraction and shall
be subject to a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for
each violation. The landlord may temporarily disconnect a smoke detector alarm
or carbon monoxide detector alarm in a dwelling unit or
common area for construction or rehabilitation activities when such activities
are likely to activate the smoke detector alarm or carbon
monoxide detector alarm or make it inactive.
(a2) If a smoke detector alarm or carbon
monoxide detector alarm is disabled or damaged, other than
through actions of the landlord, the landlord's agents, or acts of God, the
tenant shall reimburse the landlord the reasonable and actual cost for
repairing or replacing the smoke detector alarm or carbon
monoxide detector alarm within 30 days of having received written
notice from the landlord or any agent of State or local government of the need
for the tenant to make such reimbursement. If the tenant fails to make
reimbursement within 30 days, the tenant shall be responsible for an infraction
and subject to a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each
violation. The tenant may temporarily disconnect a smoke detector alarm
or carbon monoxide detector alarm in a dwelling unit to
replace the batteries or when it has been inadvertently activated.
…."
SECTION 4. G.S. 42‑51 reads as rewritten:
"§ 42‑51. Permitted uses of the deposit.
Security deposits for residential dwelling units shall be permitted only for the tenant's possible nonpayment of rent and costs for water or sewer services provided pursuant to G.S. 62‑110(g) and electric service pursuant to G.S. 62‑110(h), damage to the premises, including damage to or destruction of a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide alarm, nonfulfillment of rental period, any unpaid bills that become a lien against the demised property due to the tenant's occupancy, costs of re‑renting the premises after breach by the tenant, costs of removal and storage of tenant's property after a summary ejectment proceeding or court costs in connection with terminating a tenancy. The security deposit shall not exceed an amount equal to two weeks' rent if a tenancy is week to week, one and one‑half months' rent if a tenancy is month to month, and two months' rent for terms greater than month to month. These deposits must be fully accounted for by the landlord as set forth in G.S. 42‑52."
SECTION 5. This act becomes effective December 31, 2012.
