BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 888
88R698 MCF-F	By: Perry
	Local Government
	3/8/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, courthouses are required to comply with both fire escape statutes and Historical Commission statutes. However, this often creates problems because fire escapes were not part of the historical design of most courthouses, and adding a modern fire escape to a historical courthouse can be very expensive. Unfortunately, small rural counties do not have the money for these unbudgeted major renovations.

The proposed legislation allows county courthouses in counties smaller than 100,000 people to be exempt from being required to have a fire escape.  

As proposed, S.B. 888 amends current law relating to fire escape exemptions for certain courthouses.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 791.004, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (c), to provide that Chapter 791 (Fire Escapes) does not apply to a county courthouse located in a county with a population of less than 100,000.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.