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<ns0:Id>20250SB__087099INT</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-01-05</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Cortese</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Cortese</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Part 9 (commencing with Section 14960) to Division 12 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to fire safety. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>fire safety</ns0:RelatingClause>
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<ns0:Subject>Tabletop liquid-fuel fire features.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Existing law prohibits a person from selling, offering for sale, or distributing cigarette lighters that do not comply with standards adopted by the State Fire Marshal with respect to safety features that prevent operation of the lighters by children 5 years of age or younger.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would prohibit, on and after January 1, 2027, a person from selling, offering for sale, or distributing a tabletop liquid-fuel fire feature, as defined, unless it complies with a specified safety standard of the American Society for Testing Materials.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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(a)
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The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
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(1)
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Decorative tabletop fire features that burn pourable or refillable liquid fuels, including, but not limited to, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, and bioethanol, in open reservoirs have been involved in a significant number of serious and catastrophic burn injuries and fatalities.
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<html:p>
(2)
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The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported two deaths and at least 60 serious burn injuries since 2019 related to this product category.
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(3)
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These products present hazards that are not reasonably obvious to typical consumers,
including the risk of “flame jetting,” which is sudden flame discharge when fuel is added to a still-hot burner, and “pool fire,” which is ignition of pooled or spilled liquid fuel, and can result in flame temperatures exceeding 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit and third-degree burns in less than one second.
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(4)
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Many of the products on the market do not comply with the voluntary safety standard of the American Society for Testing Materials, ASTM F3363-19 “Standard Specification for Unvented Liquid/Gel Fuel-Burning Portable Devices,” which is designed to mitigate these risks.
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(5)
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Although decorative flame features have aesthetic and ambience value, tabletop pourable liquid fuel burners offer minimal utility compared with known, safer alternatives, including, but not limited to, listed propane tabletop fire appliances, sealed-cartridge ethanol burners, and electric flame simulators.
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(b)
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It is the intent of the Legislature to protect public health and safety by prohibiting the sale in this state of high-risk tabletop liquid-fuel fire features that do not meet rigorous safety standards, and to ensure only products that meet safe design requirements are sold.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Part 9 (commencing with Section 14960) is added to Division 12 of the
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, to read:
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<ns0:Num>9.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:LawHeadingText>Tabletop Liquid-Fuel Fire Features</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:Num>14960.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>For purposes of this part, all the following definitions apply:</html:p>
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(a)
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“Tabletop liquid-fuel fire feature” means a portable decorative appliance marketed or intended for indoor or outdoor residential use that meets all of the following criteria:
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(1)
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Burns a liquid or gel fuel, including, but not limited to, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, bioethanol, or any pourable flammable liquid, in an open reservoir or bowl.
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(2)
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Permits or requires the consumer to pour or refill liquid or gel fuel into the burner while the burner is attached or while the fuel reservoir is exposed.
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(3)
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Is designed or marketed as suitable for placement on a table, countertop, patio surface, or other nonfloor stationary surface for decorative flame presentation, including, but not limited to, devices marketed for
s’mores, ambience, interior use, or portable fireplaces.
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<html:p>
(b)
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“Unsafe tabletop liquid-fuel fire feature” means a tabletop liquid-fuel fire feature that does not comply with the safety standard of the American Society for Testing Materials, ASTM F3363-19 “Standard Specification for Unvented Liquid/Gel Fuel-Burning Portable Devices.”
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<ns0:Num>14965.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
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Except as specified in subdivision (b), on and after January 1, 2027, a person shall not sell, offer for sale, or distribute an unsafe tabletop liquid-fuel fire feature.
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(b)
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Subdivision (a) does not apply to the interstate transportation of an unsafe tabletop liquid-fuel fire feature.
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