TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE, THE FLORIDA OFFICE OF INSURANCE REGULATION, AND THE CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING HOMEOWNERS DISCOUNTS ON THEIR PROPERTY INSURANCE IF THEY INSTALL CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

BODY
WHEREAS, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels, such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane, burn incompletely; and
WHEREAS, often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide poisoning leads to 200 to 300 unintentional injuries or deaths each year according to the National Safety Council; and
WHEREAS, on December 16, 2006, this Board passed Resolution No. 1448-06, which urged the Florida Legislature to require carbon monoxide detectors in residential construction; and
WHEREAS, during the 2007 State Legislative session, the Florida Legislature passed SB 1822 (Chapter No. 2007-181, Laws of Florida), which requires carbon monoxide detectors to be installed starting July 1, 2008, in all new residential construction and other new buildings that have an attached garage, fossil-fuel-burning heaters or appliances or a fireplace; and
WHEREAS, while SB 1822 ensures that carbon monoxide detectors will be included in most new residential construction, it does not address carbon monoxide detectors in existing homes; and
WHEREAS, insurance discounts could provide incentives for existing homeowners to install carbon monoxide detectors; and
WHEREAS, some insurance companies offer discounts on property insurance policies for homeowners who install carbon monoxide detectors; and
WHEREAS, developing a system whereby homeowners receive discounts on their property insurance for installing carbon monoxide detectors similar to the discounts provided for installing hurricane shutters would provide homeowners an incentive to install carbon monoxide detectors,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, and the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to develop and implement a system for providing homeowners discounts on their property insurance if they install carbon monoxide detectors.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade County State Legislative Delegation, the Commissioner of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, and the Chairman and President of Citizens' Property Insurance Corporation Board of Governors.
Section 3. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation and/or the implementation of the regulations set forth in Section 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2008 State Legislative Package.