Minnesota Ice Arena Mandate

The bill would require all indoor ice arenas to contain an electronic air monitoring device with a carbon monoxide alarm.
(Published Mar 24, 2010)

A bill that would mandate installation of an electronic air monitoring device in every indoor ice arena is moving quickly through committees in the House and Senate.

Under the bill, HF 3512 (Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul)/SF 3175 (Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul), the monitoring device must be equipped with an alarm that sounds when the carbon monoxide level in the facility is elevated. The monitor must then activate an exhaust system. Ice arena personnel would be required to have training in operating and maintaining the device.

The primary advocate for the legislation is a figure skater and skating coach who became ill after chronic exposure to carbon monoxide generated by ice resurfacing and edging equipment.

Senate amendment exempts some rinks On March 19, the Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee amended the Senate version of the bill to exempt arenas that use only electric resurfacers and edgers. This equipment does not produce carbon monoxide.

Cost concerns In meetings with stakeholders, the League has acknowledged safety considerations, but has also raised concerns about the potential cost of implementing this legislation at a time when budget challenges are prevalent. The League would prefer an alternative that improves compliance with air quality safety precautions and monitoring. Both versions of the bill are awaiting hearings in Finance committees, where the fiscal impact can be discussed in further detail.

The effective date of the bill in its current form is Jan. 1, 2011.