SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1779
As of March 15, 2023
Title: An act relating to reducing toxic air pollution that threatens human health.
Brief Description: Reducing toxic air pollution that threatens human health.
Sponsors: House Committee on Environment & Energy (originally sponsored by Representatives Mosbrucker, Dye and Pollet).
Brief History: Passed House: 3/7/23, 93-2.
Committee Activity: Environment, Energy & Technology: 3/15/23.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Establishes an interagency carbon monoxide workgroup to produce a report on current and recommended future state activities to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by December 1, 2024.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY
Staff: Gregory Vogel (786-7413)
Background:

Carbon monoxide (CO) is regulated as one of six criteria air pollutants for which the United States Environmental Protection Agency establishes National Ambient Air Quality Standards for outdoor air pollution. At the state level, CO alarms are required under State Building Code Council rules in residential occupancies, and CO warning stickers must be affixed to certain motor-driven vessels. The presence of CO alarms are one of the items that must be addressed on residential and commercial real estate seller disclosure forms.
Summary of Bill:

The Department of Health must convene an interagency CO workgroup that includes representatives from the Department of Ecology, the Director of the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory Division, the Department of Transportation, and the Office of the Attorney General. The purpose of the workgroup is to produce a report on current and future state activities to prevent CO poisoning from sources outside of the home, increase awareness of CO among at-risk populations, collect data on CO incidents, and identify funding sources for public awareness campaigns. The workgroup must submit a report to the Legislature by December 1, 2024, containing recommendations on actions to reduce CO poisoning in Washington. 
 
The act may be known and cited as Mary's Law. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: This bill simply comes from a law enforcement officer who served and found toward the end of her career that she was breathing CO through the vents of her vehicle. We learned through this process all the things that cause exposures to CO. We want to look at what the state is doing to keep people safe. The gas is odorless and is a silent killer. We have established requirements for alarms in homes, but we have more to do. The bill simply brings awareness.

 

State patrol is supportive of collaborative efforts and ways to educate the public on CO poisoning. CO poisoning can be a small amount over a long period of time, or a large amount over a shorter period of time.

 

More action should be taken to prevent CO poisoning. Every home must be equipped with an alarm, and yet people are still impacted from CO poisoning. The changing climate will lead to more natural disasters and energy source problems, causing people to use options such as generators that would expose them to CO poisoning.

 

Residents should not have to deal with exposure to CO poisoning with the knowledge and technology available today. Everyone should have access to CO deterrents and know the risk that they could face daily. We can achieve a goal of preventing CO poisoning with ongoing education and options to mitigate exposure.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Gina Mosbrucker, Prime Sponsor; Annet van Tilburg; Melissa Browning; Neil Weaver, Washington State Patrol; Daniel Davidai.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.