A5332

An Act concerning propane gas appliances, and amending and supplementing P.L.2007, c.150.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 2 of P.L.2007, c.150 (C.52:27D-510) is amended to read as follows:

2. As used in [this act] P.L.2007, c.150 (C.52:27D-509 et seq.):

"Act" means the "Propane Gas Customer Protection Act."

“Automatic safety shutoff device” means a device that is affixed to, or an inherent design feature of, a propane appliance that eliminates hazards in the event of a leak, malfunction, or any other failure of the propane appliance.

"Department" means the Department of Community Affairs.

"Propane" means any of the forms of liquefied petroleum products, including propane, propylene, butane, isobutane, and butylene, or any mixture of these hydrocarbons, that is utilized for residential and commercial heating purposes and for various appliances and fixtures, including, but not limited to, clothes washers and dryers, grills, lighting and electricity-producing fuel cells.

"Propane gas supplier or marketer" or "supplier or marketer" means a duly licensed business that takes title to propane gas and then assumes the contractual and legal obligation to provide propane gas to an end-user customer or customers.

"Propane services" or "services" means the performing of safety and leak testing of, and the performing of installation, maintenance, repair, removal, adjustment and other services to, propane appliances including, without limitation, ranges, water heaters, heaters, furnaces, containers and other propane fueled systems, for residential and commercial applications.

(cf: P.L.2007, c.150, s.2)

2. (New section) a. A propane appliance shall not be sold, offered for sale, or used in this State unless equipped with an automatic safety shutoff device.

b. A propane gas supplier or marketer shall not provide propane services to any customer unless the customer’s propane appliance is equipped with an automatic safety shutoff device.

3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the 13th month next following enactment, except that the Commissioner of Community Affairs may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill requires that propane gas appliances be equipped with an automatic safety shutoff device. Under the bill, a propane appliance would not be sold, offered for sale, or used in this State unless equipped with an automatic safety shutoff device. Additionally, a propane gas supplier or marketer would not be permitted to provide propane services to any customer unless the customer’s propane appliance is equipped with an automatic safety shutoff device.

Currently, pursuant to the “Propane Gas Customer Protection Act,” propane gas suppliers or marketers are required to: (1) distribute to each customer a description of the terms of their plans or contracts for the sale of propane and propane services in a plain and conspicuous manner; and (2) be certified as qualified to engage in the sale of propane and performance of propane services. “Propane services” is defined in that act as the performing of safety and leak testing of, and the performing of installation, maintenance, repair, removal, adjustment, and other services to, propane appliances including, without limitation, ranges, water heaters, heaters, furnaces, containers, and other propane fueled systems, for residential and commercial applications.

This bill amends and supplements the “Propane Gas Customer Protection Act” to require that propane appliances be equipped with automatic safety shutoff devices. The bill defines “automatic safety shutoff device” as a device that is affixed to, or an inherent design feature of, a propane appliance that eliminates hazards in the event of a leak, malfunction, or any other failure of the propane appliance. Under the bill, a propane appliance would not be sold without an automatic safety shutoff device, and a propane gas supplier or marketer would not provide propane services to any customer unless the customer’s propane appliance is equipped with an automatic safety shutoff device.