RNK:jld:ph
2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE
December 8, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Hintz, Mason, Dexter and
Zepnick, cosponsored by Senators Hansen, Sullivan and Erpenbach.
Referred to Committee on Consumer Protection.
AB607,1,3 1An Act to amend 440.974 (1) (b); and to create 101.615 (1m) and 101.647 of the
2statutes; relating to: requiring carbon monoxide detectors in buildings
3containing one or two dwelling units.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the owner of most buildings that contain one or two dwelling
units (dwelling) to install a carbon monoxide detector (detector) in the basement of
the dwelling and on each floor level except the attic or storage area of each dwelling
unit. Under the bill, the owner of the dwelling must install the detector according
to the directions and specifications of the manufacturer of the detector and requires
that the detector bear an Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., listing mark. If any
occupant who is not the owner, or any state or local building inspector, notifies the
owner that a detector is not functional, the owner must provide, within five days after
receipt of that notice, any maintenance necessary to make the detector functional.
The bill exempts an owner of a dwelling from damages resulting from a false alarm
from a detector that was reasonably maintained by the owner or from the failure of
the detector to operate properly as the result of tampering.
The bill requires new dwellings to have carbon monoxide detectors that are
wired to the dwelling's electrical service. Existing dwellings may use a battery
powered detector. The bill exempts certain dwellings from the requirement to install
detectors. Under the bill, no detector is required if the dwelling has no attached
garage, no fireplace, and no fuel-burning appliances.

The bill authorizes a state or local building inspector to inspect new dwellings,
and, at the request of a dwelling owner or renter, the interior of a dwelling unit to
ensure compliance with the requirements established under this bill.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB607, s. 1 1Section 1. 101.615 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB607,2,32 101.615 (1m) Section 101.647 applies to a dwelling the initial construction of
3which was commenced before, on, or after the effective date of this subsection.
AB607, s. 2 4Section 2. 101.647 of the statutes is created to read:
AB607,2,5 5101.647 Carbon monoxide detectors. (1) Definitions. In this section:
AB607,2,66 (a) "Carbon monoxide detector" has the meaning given in s. 101.149 (1) (am).
AB607,2,97 (b) "Fuel-burning appliance" means a device that is installed in a dwelling,
8that burns fossil fuel or carbon-based fuel, and that produces carbon monoxide as
9a combustion by-product.
AB607,2,15 10(2) Installation and safety certification. The owner of a dwelling shall
11install any carbon monoxide detector required under this section according to the
12directions and specifications of the manufacturer of the carbon monoxide detector.
13A carbon monoxide detector required under this section shall bear an Underwriters
14Laboratories, Inc., listing mark and may be a device that is combined with a smoke
15detector.
AB607,3,7 16(3) Requirement. (a) The owner of a dwelling shall install a functional carbon
17monoxide detector in the basement of the dwelling and on each floor level except the
18attic or storage area of each dwelling unit. If the building permit for the initial
19construction of the dwelling was issued on or after the effective date of this

1paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], and the electrical service for the dwelling is
2provided by a public utility, as defined in s. 196.01 (5), the owner of the dwelling shall
3install each carbon monoxide detector required under this subsection so that it is
4powered by the dwelling's electrical wiring system. A carbon monoxide detector
5wired to the dwelling's electrical wiring system shall have a backup battery power
6supply. Except as provided under par. (b), the occupant of the dwelling unit shall
7maintain any carbon monoxide detector in that unit.
AB607,3,138 (b) If any occupant who is not the owner of a dwelling, or any person authorized
9by state law or by city, village, town, or county ordinance or resolution to exercise
10powers or duties involving inspection of real or personal property, gives written
11notice to the owner that the carbon monoxide detector is not functional, the owner
12shall provide, within 5 days after receipt of that notice, any maintenance necessary
13to make that carbon monoxide detector functional.
AB607,3,18 14(4) Inspection. The department or person authorized by state law or by city,
15village, town, or county ordinance or resolution to exercise powers or duties involving
16inspection of real or personal property may inspect new dwellings and, at the request
17of the owner or renter, may inspect the interior of a dwelling unit in a dwelling to
18ensure compliance with this section.
AB607,3,20 19(5) Liability exemption. The owner of a dwelling is not liable for damages
20resulting from any of the following:
AB607,3,2221 (a) A false alarm from a carbon monoxide detector if the carbon monoxide
22detector was reasonably maintained by the owner of the dwelling.
AB607,4,223 (b) The failure of a carbon monoxide detector to operate properly if that failure
24was the result of tampering with, or removal or destruction of, the carbon monoxide

1detector by a person other than the owner of the dwelling or the result of a faulty
2detector that was reasonably maintained by the owner of the dwelling.
AB607,4,5 3(6) Tampering prohibited. No person may tamper with, remove, destroy,
4disconnect, or remove batteries from an installed carbon monoxide detector, except
5in the course of inspection, maintenance, or replacement of the detector.
AB607,4,7 6(7) Exceptions. Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to the owner of a dwelling
7if all of the following apply:
AB607,4,88 (a) The dwelling does not have an attached garage.
AB607,4,99 (b) The dwelling does not have a fireplace.
AB607,4,1010 (c) The dwelling does not have a fuel-burning appliance.
AB607, s. 3 11Section 3. 440.974 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB607,4,1812 440.974 (1) (b) Subject to s. 440.975, standards for the practice of home
13inspection by home inspectors and standards for specifying the mechanical and
14structural components of improvements to residential real property that are
15included in a home inspection. The rules promulgated under this paragraph shall
16include standards for the inspection of carbon monoxide detectors.
The rules
17promulgated under this paragraph may not require a home inspector to use a
18specified form for the report required under s. 440.975 (3).
AB607, s. 4 19Section 4. Effective date.
AB607,4,2120 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 13th month beginning after the
21effective date of this subsection.
AB607,4,2222 (End)
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