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State to mandate 10-year smoke detectors
Next year is the last year you’ll be able to buy smoke detectors with removable batteries.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation late Monday that as of Jan. 1, 2017, will ban sales of such smoke detectors and require detectors with non-removable 10-year batteries to be sold. In approving the bill, Cuomo did require that the Legislature pass a chapter amendment during the 2016 legislative session to make technical fixes.
“All homes and businesses must have working smoke detectors and it is undisputed that these devices save lives,” the governor wrote.
After remaining stuck in committee since 2011, the Legislature finally approved the bill last year.
“Unfortunately, the data clearly demonstrates that the majority of fire-related deaths transpire in homes without working smoke alarms or no alarms at all,” Assembly sponsor Joe Morelle said in a statement. “As technology advances so does our ability to use that technology for the purposes of enhancing public safety measures. Thankfully, due to the increased availability of extended-life batteries and new tamper-resistant smoke detectors we can now put this technology to use to help individuals and families better protect themselves and their loved ones.
The New York State Firemen’s Association applauded the bill’s approval.
“We’ve seen time and again that working smoke alarms can be the difference between life and death,” FASNY PresidentRobert McConville said in a statement. “This law will no doubt go a long way towards ensuring New York is a safer place.”
Arts award bill approved
Also approved by Cuomo is a bill creating the Edward Hopper citation for visual arts. That award would be bestowed every two years to a New York visual artists. An advisory panel appointed by the New York State Council on the Arts would choose the winners.
In approving the bill, Cuomo asked the Legislature to pass a chapter amendment, though for what isn’t clear. He stated only that, “This bill would require NYSCA to prioritize one artistic medium over other, equally deserving, forms of expression.”
The governor vetoed separate pieces of legislation that would have allowed some Westchester County communities to impose occupancy taxes.