1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to housing; requiring carbon monoxide alarms in all rental dwellings.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. DEFINITIONS.
 1.5 		Subdivision 1.Scope. As used in this bill, the terms defined in this section have 
1.6 	the meanings given them.
1.7 		Subd. 2.Installed. "Installed" means that an approved carbon monoxide alarm is 
1.8 	hardwired into the electrical wiring, directly plugged into an electrical outlet without a 
1.9 	switch, or, if the alarm is battery-powered, attached to the wall of the dwelling.
1.10 		Subd. 3.Rental single and multifamily dwelling. "Rental single and multifamily 
1.11 	dwelling" means any building or structure which is rented wholly or partly for use for 
1.12 	living or sleeping by human occupants.
1.13 		Subd. 4.Dwelling unit. "Dwelling unit" means an area meant for living or sleeping 
1.14 	by human occupants.
1.15 		Subd. 5.Approved carbon monoxide alarm. "Approved carbon monoxide alarm" 
1.16 	means a device meant for the purpose of detecting carbon monoxide that is certified by a 
1.17 	nationally recognized testing laboratory to conform to the latest  Underwriters Laboratories 
1.18 	Standards (known as UL2034 standards).
1.19 		Subd. 6.Operational. "Operational" means working and in service according to 
1.20 	manufacturer's directions.

1.21 	Sec. 2. REQUIREMENTS FOR CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS.
 1.22 		Subdivision 1.Generally. Every rental single family dwelling and every dwelling 
1.23 	unit in a rental multifamily dwelling must have an approved and operational carbon 
2.1 	monoxide alarm installed on each level of the residence and within ten feet of each room 
2.2 	lawfully used for sleeping purposes.
2.3 		Subd. 2.Owner's duties. The owner of a rental single or multifamily dwelling 
2.4 	which is required to be equipped with one or more approved carbon monoxide alarms 
2.5 	must:
2.6 	(1) provide and install one approved and operational carbon monoxide alarm on each 
2.7 	level of the dwelling and within ten feet of each room lawfully used for sleeping; and 
2.8 	(2) replace any approved carbon monoxide alarm that has been stolen, removed, 
2.9 	found missing, or rendered inoperable during a prior occupancy of the dwelling unit 
2.10 	and which has not been replaced by the prior occupant prior to the commencement of a 
2.11 	new occupancy of a dwelling unit.
2.12 		Subd. 3.Occupant's duties. The occupant of each dwelling unit in a multifamily 
2.13 	dwelling in which an approved and operational carbon monoxide alarm has been provided 
2.14 	and installed by the owner must:
2.15 	(1) keep and maintain the device in good repair according to manufacturer's 
2.16 	directions; and
2.17 	(2) replace any device that is stolen, removed, missing, or rendered inoperable 
2.18 	during the occupancy of the dwelling unit.
2.19 		Subd. 4.Battery removal prohibited. No person shall remove batteries from, or in 
2.20 	any way render inoperable, a required carbon monoxide alarm.

2.21 	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.22 	Sections 1 to 3 are effective January 1, 2007, for all newly constructed rental single 
2.23 	family and multifamily dwelling units and August 1, 2008, for all existing and newly 
2.24 	constructed rental single family and multifamily dwelling units.