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Alaska State Legislature House and Senate Democrats |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE · March 31, 2004 |
House Passes Lifesaving CO Detector Bill
HB 351 updates smoke detector regulations to include CO detectors
JUNEAU – The House of Representatives today passed House Bill 351, an act to require carbon monoxide detection devices in dwellings already required to have smoke detection devices.
"The recent deaths of all five members of an Anchorage family from carbon monoxide poisoning in their home has prompted introduction of this bill," said Representative Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage). "Representative Gatto and I have co-introduced this bill in a bipartisan manner to help save lives and to prevent CO injuries."
The bill adds carbon monoxide detection devices to the requirement in Alaska state statute (AS 18.70.095) that homeowners install and maintain smoke detectors and adds that landlords shall install the devices to be maintained by their tenants.
"Carbon monoxide is invisible to the human senses," continued Representative Gruenberg. "It is odorless, tasteless, colorless, and non-irritating. And children are especially at risk when exposed to even low levels of carbon monoxide. Without a CO detector, one doesn’t know they are being poisoned."
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of accidental poisoning in American annually and is responsible for 40,000 emergency room visits nationwide.
HB351 moves now to the Senate for consideration.
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 http://www.akdemocrats.org/Documents/033104_co_detector_bill_passes_house.pdf · Additional information: HB351 Representative Max Gruenberg |
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