On January 28, Executive Director Michael Sanderson testified before the Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 222 – Public Safety – Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing For Fuel Gas Piping Systems – Requirements and Prohibitions.
This bill requires the corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) meet certain requirements in order to be sold, transferred, or distributed.
“We have already seen what the worst case looks like,” said Mr. Sanderson. “We know what can go wrong here, there’s a good bill here that can help… let’s find a way to pass a good bill.”
In recent history, there have been several instances where structure fires have become more severe due to failures in CSST tubing – including the tragic line-of-duty deaths of Frederick County firefighter Joshua Laird and Howard County firefighter Nathan Flynn. HB 222 addresses these failures by requiring CSST to meet certain standards and enforcing those standards by establishing a civil penalty of up to $1000 for noncompliance.
HB 222’s cross-file, SB 175, was heard on February 6 in the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee. Sarah Sample testified in support of this bill.
SB 175 was heard in the opposite chamber, the Environment and Transportation Committee, on March 25. MACo submitted written testimony in support of this bill.
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