Introduced Version






SENATE BILL No. 383

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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



Citations Affected: None (noncode).

Synopsis: Sprinkler systems in dorms. Requires a state educational institution to install a fire suppression system throughout a dormitory. Provides that the plans for the installation must be submitted to the office of the state building commissioner. Requires the institution to complete the installation by July 31, 2005. Creates the dormitory safety fund to provide grants and loans to entities, other than state educational institutions, that own dormitories recognized by a state educational institution to install fire suppression systems. Appropriates $5,000,000 to the dormitory safety fund to provide grants and loans to entities that own dormitories recognized by a state educational institution to install fire suppression systems. Appropriates $5,000,000 to the state educational institution fire suppression fund for appropriations for state educational institutions to pay for installation of fire suppression systems.

Effective: July 1, 2001.





Kenley




    January 18, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure.







Introduced

First Regular Session 112th General Assembly (2001)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2000 General Assembly.

SENATE BILL No. 383



    A BILL FOR AN ACT concerning fire safety and to make an appropriation.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

    SECTION 1. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001] (a) As used in this SECTION, "commissioner" refers to the state building commissioner.
    (b) As used in this SECTION, "dormitory" means a building or a part of a building containing rooms that are provided as residences for overnight sleeping for individuals or groups. The term includes a residence or multiple dwelling that is used by a fraternity or sorority recognized by a state educational institution or owned by a state educational institution. The term does not include a residence or multiple dwelling that is not recognized by or owned by a state educational institution.
    (c) As used in this SECTION, "common areas" means the areas within a building that are normally accessible to all residents, including the corridors, lounge or lobby areas, and areas that contain elements of fire hazards, such as boiler rooms.
    (d) As used in this SECTION, "state educational institution" has the meaning set forth in IC 20-12-0.5-1.


    (e) Notwithstanding any other law or rule, a dormitory at a state educational institution must contain an automatic fire suppression system in the common areas and the areas used for sleeping within the dormitory as set forth in this SECTION.
    (f) If the dormitory is not owned by the state educational institution but recognized by the institution, the owner of the dormitory is responsible for the installation required under this SECTION.
    (g) Not later than November 1, 2001, every state educational institution or other entity responsible for a dormitory subject to this SECTION shall file with the office of the state building commissioner a plan outlining the installation of automatic fire suppression systems in all dormitories.
    (h) A plan filed under subsection (g) may cover installation projects that were begun not earlier than July 1, 2000.
    (i) The state educational institution or owner shall obtain a design release under IC 22-15-3 from the office of the state building commissioner.
    (j) An entity shall complete the installation required by this SECTION as follows:
        (1) At least twenty-five percent (25%) of the installation shall be completed not later than July 31, 2002.
        (2) At least fifty percent (50%) of the installation shall be completed not later than July 31, 2003.
        (3) At least seventy-five percent (75%) of the installation shall be completed not later than July 31, 2004.
        (4) All required installation shall be completed not later than July 31, 2005.
    (k) Upon application by the entity, the building commissioner may extend the time frames set forth in subsections (g) and (j) upon a showing that the time frame would pose an unreasonable hardship for the entity, or that performance of the installation is impossible for reasons outside the control of the entity by the date set forth in subsection (j). When the request for an extension concerns a building containing asbestos or a historic building, there shall be a presumption in favor of granting the extension.
    (l) The commissioner may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 as necessary to implement this SECTION.
    (m) The commissioner may adopt rules that exempt from the requirements of this SECTION any type of building that the commissioner may determine does not warrant the level of protection provided in this SECTION based on the fire hazard

risk.
    (n) This SECTION expires July 1, 2006.

    SECTION 2. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001] (a) As used in this SECTION, "applicant" means an entity other than a state educational institution that owns a dormitory that is:
        (1) recognized by a state educational institution; and
        (2) required under SECTION 1 of this act to contain a fire suppression system.
    (b) As used in this SECTION, "fund" means the dormitory safety fund created by this SECTION.
    (c) As used in this SECTION, "state educational institution" has the meaning set forth in IC 20-12-0.5-1.
    (d) The dormitory safety fund is created.
    (e) The fund is a revolving fund created to provide grants and loans to applicants for the installation of fire suppression systems in accordance with SECTION 1 of this act.
    (f) A successful applicant for a grant or loan from the fund must meet the requirements of this SECTION, and the application must be approved by the budget agency.
    (g) An application for a grant or loan from the fund must be made on a form prescribed by the budget agency. An applicant shall provide all information that the budget agency finds necessary to make the determinations required by this SECTION.
    (h) In order to receive a grant or loan under this SECTION, an applicant must have submitted a plan for the installation of a fire suppression system to the office of the building commissioner and received design approval as required under SECTION 1 of this act.
    (i) The budget agency shall administer the fund. The fund consists of appropriations from the general assembly and gifts and grants to the fund.
    (j) Upon recommendation of the budget agency, the state board of finance shall establish the interest rate or parameters for establishing the interest rate on each loan, including parameters for establishing the amount of interest subsidies.
    (k) The budget agency shall establish the terms and conditions that the budget agency considers necessary or convenient to:
        (1) make loans; or
        (2) provide grants;
under this SECTION.
    (l) The budget agency, after review by the budget committee, may approve, deny, or modify grants and loans. Money in the fund may not be used to provide a recurring source of revenue for the

normal operating expenditures of any project.
    (m) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same manner as other public funds may be invested.
    (n) The money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund but remains in the fund to be used exclusively for the purposes of this SECTION.
    (o) This SECTION expires July 1, 2006.

    SECTION 3. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001] (a) As used in this SECTION, "fund" refers to the state educational institution fire suppression fund created under this SECTION.
    (b) The state educational institution fire suppression fund is created.
    (c) The budget agency shall administer the fund. The fund consists of appropriations from the general assembly and gifts and grants to the fund.
    (d) The fund is a revolving fund for the purpose of paying the expenses of state educational institutions in installing fire suppression systems as required under SECTION 1 of this act.
    (e) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same manner as other public funds may be invested.
    (f) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund.

     (g) This SECTION expires July 1, 2006.
    SECTION 4. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001] (a) There is appropriated to the state educational institution fire suppression fund created under SECTION 3 of this act five million dollars ($5,000,000) from the state general fund beginning July 1, 2001, and ending June 30, 2006. The budget agency shall use the money appropriated under this SECTION to pay for the following:
        (1) The costs of installing fire suppression systems in state educational institutions as required under SECTION 1 of this act.
        (2) Any architectural, appraisal, consultant, engineering, legal, or other professional fees incurred to carry out an activity described in subdivision (1).
    (b) Appropriations made under this SECTION may be spent only after the expenditure is approved by the budget agency and the budget committee.
    (c) This SECTION expires July 1, 2006.

    SECTION 5. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001] (a) As used in this

SECTION, "applicant" means an entity other than a state educational institution that owns a dormitory that is:
        (1) recognized by a state educational institution; and
        (2) required under SECTION 1 of this act to contain a fire suppression system.

     (b) There is appropriated to the dormitory safety fund created under SECTION 2 of this act five million dollars ($5,000,000) from the state general fund beginning July 1, 2001, and ending June 30, 2006. The budget agency shall use the money appropriated under this SECTION to do the following:
        (1) Provide grants and loans to applicants for the installation of fire suppression systems as required under SECTION 1 of this act.
        (2) Pay for any architectural, appraisal, consultant, engineering, legal, or other professional fees incurred to carry out the installation of fire suppression systems as required under SECTION 1 of this act.
    (c) Appropriations made under this SECTION may be spent only after the expenditure is approved by the budget agency and the budget committee.
    (d) This SECTION expires July 1, 2006.