Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 2447	House Author:  Martinez
Effective:  9-1-13	Senate Sponsor:  Hinojosa

            House Bill 2447 amends the Health and Safety Code to prohibit a person from using the term "portable fire extinguisher" or "fire extinguisher" in the sale or advertisement of an aerosol fire suppression device or similar fire suppression device unless the device conforms to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 10 (2010), "Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers," or a successor standard adopted by the commissioner of insurance that is at least as stringent as the NFPA Standard 10, and is specifically listed for that use by a testing laboratory approved by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI).

House Bill 2447 amends the Insurance Code to remove a firm engaged in the retail or wholesale sale of portable fire extinguishers carrying an approval label of a TDI-approved testing laboratory from the items, entities, and activities that are exempt from the application of statutory provisions relating to the regulation of fire extinguisher service and installation, but retains the exemption for a firm that engages in the sale of fire extinguishers that carry the listing of an approved testing laboratory.

            House Bill 2447 does not apply to the sale or advertisement of an aerosol fire suppression device or similar fire suppression device that, on or before September 1, 2013, is listed for use as a portable fire extinguisher by a TDI-approved testing laboratory, other than the NFPA, and is approved for use as a portable fire extinguisher by TDI. This exception expires September 1, 2015.