The Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Association opposes legislation that would require lodging establishments to install carbon monoxide sensors in guest rooms.
On May 2, 2008, Representative Mantz (R-Lehigh) introduced legislation mandating that hotels and motels install carbon monoxide sensors in sleeping rooms. House Bill 2436 was referred to the House Labor Relations Committee.
The measure was introduced in response to the death of a hotel guest staying at a property in the Lehigh Valley in January 2008 when a contractor working outside the hotel hung plastic sheeting that covered exhaust vents and caused the carbon monoxide poisoning death.
The Board of Directors took prompt action and voted to take a position in opposition to House Bill 2436 several weeks after the bill was introduced. PTLA staff communicated the Association's position to key Democratic and Republican House members.
Lodging operators in the Commonwealth have no higher concern or commitment than that of safeguarding guests and employees.
However, the enactment of House Bill 2436 is unnecessary since the bill was filed in response to a single incident rather than a statewide problem of carbon monoxide deaths in lodging facilities. The mandate of installing carbon monoxide sensors would be cost prohibitive for lodging properties.
The House Labor Relations Committee has not considered the bill due to the prompt and aggressive lobbying action taken by PTLA. House Bill 2436 is expected to “die” in committee when the current legislative session ends on November 30, 2008.
