posted on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 9:08 AM
by
klehan
Montana to Require Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Soon carbon monoxide detectors will be required in all new buildings and homes in Montana.
That has special meaning to a Flathead man who joined in the fight after losing his son to carbon monoxide poisoning in December.
Senate Bill 161, requires all new structures in Montana to have a carbon monoxide detector, and it passed both the House and Senate committees by unanimous votes.
But to Scotty Hineman, the bill's success has left him with a heavy heart, "I always thought if we get this passed through, it's going to be such a great victory, and it is, but it is bittersweet".
Ian Hineman, 17, died of carbon monoxide poisoning while he slept in his family's Creston home on December 21st. Through their pain, his family joined forces with Senator Debby Barrett to make sure nobody else suffers the same fate.
"I've never done anything like this before. Like I said, it was a constituent bill, but I could not be happier with the results and I think it was just really time for this piece of legislation and I feel really good about it" Barrett.
The U.S. Health Department has said Montana is the leading state for carbon monoxide-related deaths. The Hinemans say this bill is long overdue.
"I find it sad that us being the leading state in that statistic, we have to wait this long to enact this law."
Hineman said he'll continue to work to make sure other states follow suit and make carbon monoxide detectors mandatory in homes. He says this is just the beginning, "The loss of Ian, this isn't the end for me".
Governor Brian Schweitzer is expected to sign the bill within the next ten days and when he does, Montana will become the 16th state to make carbon monoxide