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Introduced Version House Bill 4497 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 4497


(By Delegates Proudfoot, Varner

Kominar and Stalnaker)

[Introduced February 12, 2008; referred to the

Committee on Industry and Labor, Economic Development and Small Business then the Judiciary.]




A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-3-32, relating to liquefied petroleum gas-consuming equipment and appliances and the business of selling at retail, supplying, handling or transporting certain types of liquefied petroleum gas; requiring certification of correctness as to design, construction and performance of domestic and commercial liquefied petroleum gas-consuming equipment and appliances; requiring installation of liquefied petroleum gas-consuming appliances, equipment or other components of a liquefied petroleum gas delivery system in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer of the appliance, equipment or component; prohibiting the alteration, modification, maintenance or repair of liquefied petroleum gas-consuming appliances, equipment or other components of a liquefied petroleum gas delivery system unless done in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer; providing protections from liability for persons engaged in the business of selling at retail, supplying, handling or transporting liquefied petroleum gas, for acts in which they did not participate; and using existing criminal penalty provisions for violations.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-3-32, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 3. FIRE PREVENTION AND CONSUMER SAFETY ACT.
§29-3-32. Certification of domestic and commercial liquefied petroleum gas-consuming equipment installation; adherence to manufacturer's instructions; protection from liability for selling at retail, supplying, handling or transporting liquefied petroleum gas.

(a) Domestic and commercial liquefied petroleum gas-consuming equipment and appliances may not be installed unless their correctness as to design, construction, and performance is certified by:
(1) A nationally recognized testing agency adequately equipped and competent to perform the services evidenced by the attachment of its seal or label to the liquefied petroleum gas appliances. This agency must be one which maintains a program of national inspection of production models of liquefied petroleum gas appliances, at least once each year on the manufacturer's premises; or
(2) By the American Gas Association Laboratories, as evidenced by the attachment of its listing symbol or approval seal to liquefied petroleum gas appliances and a certificate or letter certifying approval under the above-mentioned requirements. A listing by Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., is considered compliance with the provisions of this subsection.
(b) A person may not install liquefied petroleum gas-consuming appliances, equipment or other components of a liquefied petroleum gas delivery system unless the installation is made in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer of the appliance, equipment or component.
(c) A person may not alter, modify, maintain or repair liquefied petroleum gas-consuming appliances, equipment or other components of a liquefied petroleum gas delivery system unless the alteration, modification, maintenance or repair is made in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer of the appliance, equipment or component.
(d) (1) A person engaged in this state in the business of selling at retail, supplying, handling or transporting liquefied petroleum gas is not liable for civil damages for injury to persons or property if the injury, damage or loss was caused solely by:
(A) The alteration, modification or repair of liquefied petroleum gas-consuming equipment or a liquefied petroleum gas-consuming appliance if the alteration, modification or repair was done without the knowledge and consent of the liquefied petroleum gas seller, supplier, handler or transporter; or
(B) The use of liquefied petroleum gas-consuming equipment or a liquefied petroleum gas-consuming appliance in a manner or for a purpose other than that for which the equipment or appliance was intended and that could reasonably have been expected.
(2) This subsection does not limit the liability of a person engaged in this state in the business of selling at retail, supplying, handling or transporting liquefied petroleum gas for civil damages for injury to persons or property caused by the negligent or intentional acts of the person, or the person's employees or agents.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require certification of correctness as to design, construction and performance of domestic and commercial liquefied petroleum gas-consuming equipment and appliances. The bill would also:
(1) Require the installation of liquefied petroleum gas-consuming appliances, equipment or other components of a liquefied petroleum gas delivery system in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer of the appliance, equipment or component;
(2) Prohibit the alteration, modification, maintenance or repair of liquefied petroleum gas-consuming appliances, equipment or other components of a liquefied petroleum gas delivery system unless done in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer; and
(3) Provide protection from liability for persons engaged in the business of selling at retail, supplying, handling or transporting liquefied petroleum gas, for acts in which they did not participate.

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