PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Improve the Law Concerning Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect as soon as possible in order to minimize confusion and expense for building owners and educational facilities; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2468, sub-§2, ¶A, as amended by PL 2015, c. 375, §2 and affected by §5, is further amended to read:
 
A. Each unit in any building of multifamily occupancy; a fraternity house, sorority house or dormitory that is affiliated with an educational facility; a children's home, emergency children's shelter, children's residential care facility, shelter for homeless children or specialized children's home as defined in Title 22, section 8101; or a hotel, motel, inn or bed and breakfast licensed as an eating and lodging place or a lodging place under Title 22, chapter 562. The owner shall use a carbon monoxide detector that is powered by:
 
(1) Both the electrical service in the building and a battery; or
 
(2) A nonreplaceable 10-year battery except that a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector need not be powered by a nonreplaceable 10-year battery if it uses a low-power radio frequency wireless communication signal, uses multiple sensors, has low-frequency audible notification capability or is connected to a control panel;
Sec. 2. 25 MRSA §2468, sub-§11, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 375, §3 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
 
B. A nonreplaceable 10-year battery except that a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector need not be powered by a nonreplaceable 10-year battery if it uses a low-power radio frequency wireless communication signal, uses multiple sensors, has low-frequency audible notification capability or is connected to a control panel.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
Under current law, carbon monoxide detectors required to be installed in educational facilities and units of multifamily dwellings; fraternity houses, sorority houses and dormitories affiliated with educational facilities; children's homes, shelters and residential care facilities licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services; and eating and lodging places must be powered either by the electrical service in the building and a battery or by a nonreplaceable 10-year battery. This bill allows a carbon monoxide detector installed in such a building to be powered by a battery other than a nonreplaceable 10-year battery if the detector uses a low-power radio frequency wireless communication signal or multiple sensors, has low-frequency audible notification capability or is connected to a control panel.