Housing; installation and maintenance of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in rental property. (SB391)

Introduced By

Sen. George Barker (D-Alexandria) with support from co-patron Sen. Bill DeSteph (R-Virginia Beach)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Housing; installation and maintenance of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Creates a statewide standard for the installation and maintenance of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in rental property. The bill requires a landlord (i) to install a smoke alarm but does not permit a locality to require new or additional wiring or the upgrading of smoke alarms under certain conditions and (ii) to certify annually that smoke alarms have been installed and maintained in good working order in a residential dwelling unit pursuant to the Statewide Fire Prevention Code (§ 27-94 et seq.) and the Uniform Statewide Building Code (§ 36-97 et seq.). The landlord is also required to install a carbon monoxide alarm upon request by a tenant; the installation and subsequent maintenance must be in compliance with the Statewide Fire Prevention Code and the Uniform Statewide Building Code. A tenant of a rental dwelling unit with a smoke alarm or both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms shall not tamper or remove such alarms. Under the bill, a reasonable accommodation must be made for persons who are deaf or hearing impaired, upon request. Localities that have enacted a fire and carbon monoxide alarm ordinance must conform such ordinances with these state standards by July 1, 2019. The bill also requires the Department of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with the Department of Fire Programs, to develop a form for landlords for use in certifying inspections that summarizes smoke alarm maintenance requirements for landlords and tenants. The bill, as introduced, is a recommendation of the Virginia Housing Commission. This bill incorporates SB 743 and is identical to HB 609. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/09/2018Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18101367D
01/09/2018Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
01/17/2018Impact statement from DPB (SB391)
01/22/2018Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/22/2018Committee substitute printed 18105785D-S1
01/23/2018Incorporates SB391 (DeSteph)
01/23/2018Incorporates SB743 (DeSteph)
01/24/2018Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/25/2018Read second time
01/25/2018Reading of substitute waived
01/25/2018Committee substitute agreed to 18105785D-S1
01/25/2018Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB391S1
01/26/2018Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/31/2018Placed on Calendar
01/31/2018Read first time
01/31/2018Referred to Committee on General Laws
02/08/2018Impact statement from DPB (SB391S1)
02/15/2018Reported from General Laws (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/19/2018Read second time
02/20/2018Read third time
02/20/2018Passed House BLOCK VOTE (100-Y 0-N)
02/20/2018VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (100-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/22/2018Enrolled
02/22/2018Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB391ER)
02/22/2018Impact statement from DPB (SB391ER)
02/22/2018Signed by Speaker
02/23/2018Signed by President
02/26/2018Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on February 26, 2018
02/26/2018G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 5, 2018
03/02/2018G Approved by Governor-Chapter 81 (effective 7/1/18)
03/02/2018G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0081)

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: SB743.