WEST virginia legislature

2024 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 853

By Senator Rucker

[Introduced February 19, 2024; referred
to the Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining; and then to the Committee on Government Organization]

A BILL to amend and reenact §15A-10-15 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the performance of installation of propane gas systems; requiring the Fire Commission to promulgate standards relating to propane gas systems installed in single-family dwellings; and requiring the State Fire Marshal to inspect and certify compliance with the Fire Commission's standards.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

Article 10. Fire Marshall.

§15A-10-15. Performance of installation of propane fuel gas systems.

(a) Notwithstanding any statutory or regulatory provisions to the contrary, any person who installs, fuels, maintains, or services any fuel gas system to a one- or two-family dwelling shall comply with rules promulgated by the Fire Commission relating to fuel gas systems.

(b) This section does not apply to any person who performs this work on a single-family dwelling, owned or leased, and occupied by that person. The personal exemption provided in this subsection is the same as the personal exemption provided in §29-3D-1, et seq. of this code

(b) The Fire Commission shall promulgate rules governing the installation of propane fuel tanks at single and multi-family dwellings.  Said rules shall be enforceable by the State Fire Marshall.

(c) Use of, refilling of, or work upon a liquefied petroleum gas container without the consent of the tank owner is prohibited.

(d) No person shall sell, install, fill, refill, deliver or permit to be delivered, or use in any manner any liquefied petroleum gas container unless the container is owned by the person, or its use is authorized by its owner.

(e) For purposes of this section "Liquefied petroleum gas" means propane and or predominantly a mixture of propane and butane.

(f) For purposes of this section "propane fuel tanks" means tanks containing propane or predominantly a mixture of propane and butane in excess of 250 pounds, the primary purpose of which is to deliver fuel to a single or multi-family residential dwelling.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the Fire Commission promulgate standards for the installation of propane tanks at single family homes, and to require the State Fire Marshall to enforce those rules.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.