BILL NUMBER:S7728

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the executive law, in relation to
requiring interconnectable smoke detecting devices to be installed in
certain residential buildings

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: The purpose of this bill is to
require the installation and replacement of non-interconnectable smoke
alarms with interconnectable smoke alarms within 10 years of the
passage of this bill in certain residential buildings.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: This bill would require that everyone
or two-family dwelling has an operable interconnectable smoke
detecting device installed.

This bill would also define "interconnectable smoke detecting device"
or "interconnectable smoke detecting alarm device" as a battery
operated or hard-wired smoke detecting alarm that communicates with
other such devices so that when one such device gives warnings the
other interconnectable smoke detecting alarm devices will also give
warnings.

JUSTIFICATION: Smoke detectors/alarms have been instrumental in
preventing the loss of many lives by alerting occupants of the initial
presence of smoke thereby giving them enough time to exit the
structure before the fire consumes the dwelling. Unfortunately, in
              

many fire situations, older fashioned smoke detectors that detect
smoke and sound off, do not have the technology to communicate and
warn other smoke detectors in the same household or dwelling.

In January 2012, Kerry Rose Fitzsimons, died in an off campus housing
fire. The Multiple dwelling unit did have smoke detectors, however,
the fire started in another section of the residence and by the time
the smoke detector in her area went off there was no time left to
escape.

Interconnectable smoke detectors communicate with each other, forming
an integrated system of protection. The Alarms can be interconnected
via wires (hardwired) or wirelessly via radio signals and can
communicate with the other detectors located throughout the residence
warning the occupants of a fire thereby saving countless future lives.
They are available now and are similarly priced with the older models.
This bill requires all residential buildings currently mandated to
have smoke detectors/alarms to install interconnectable smoke
detectors/alarms within ten years. This time frame will-give the
manufacturers enough time to sell off existing stock and will outlive
the current life span of the smoke detectors currently in use.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: This is a new bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:  None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect January 1, 2024 with
provisions.