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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to reporting and monitoring requirements related to fire |
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protection sprinkler systems in residential high-rise buildings. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 417, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 417.012 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 417.012. REPORTING AND MONITORING OF FIRE PROTECTION |
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SPRINKLER SYSTEMS IN RESIDENTIAL HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS; EXPIRATION. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Fire department" means a department of a local |
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government that is staffed by permanent, full-time employees of the |
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local government and that is organized to prevent or suppress |
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fires. |
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(2) "Fire protection sprinkler system" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 6003.001, Insurance Code. |
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(3) "Local government" means a municipality, county, |
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or special district. |
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(4) "Residential high-rise building" means a building |
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used primarily for a residential purpose and that extends at least |
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75 feet from the ground. |
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(b) Not later than December 1 of each year, a local |
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government with a fire department, in collaboration with the local |
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government's fire department, shall submit to the state fire |
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marshal a report on residential high-rise buildings located in |
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areas served by the fire department that are not currently fully |
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equipped with a fire protection sprinkler system in good working |
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order. The report must include the following information for each |
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building: |
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(1) whether the building has a fire protection |
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sprinkler system in only part of the building, and if so, which |
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part; |
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(2) the building's street and mailing address; |
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(3) the name of the owner of the building; |
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(4) the number of current occupants; |
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(5) whether at least 50 percent of the residents of the |
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building are elderly individuals, individuals with disabilities, |
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or individuals with impaired mobility; |
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(6) a listing of previous safety violations; |
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(7) the action, if any, that has been taken to address |
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issues preventing the building from being equipped with a fire |
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protection sprinkler system in good working order; |
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(8) the plan, if any, that is in place to address |
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issues preventing the building from being equipped with a fire |
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protection sprinkler system in good working order and the date the |
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plan will be implemented; and |
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(9) any other information requested by the state fire |
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marshal. |
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(c) The state fire marshal may conduct an inspection or |
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further investigation of a residential high-rise building |
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described by a report submitted under this section, and the state |
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fire marshal may monitor a plan submitted under this section. The |
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state fire marshal may consult with a local government and fire |
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department on best practices related to fire safety for residential |
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high-rise buildings. |
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(d) The state fire marshal shall prepare and electronically |
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submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and members of the |
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legislature a report of the information collected and analyzed |
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under this section and an assessment of the proposed actions and |
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plans. The report may also include any other information and |
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recommendations that the state fire marshal considers necessary. |
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(e) This section expires August 31, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |