CONSTRUCTION CODE COMM'N MEMBER S.B. 279:
ANALYSIS AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
Senate Bill 279 (as passed by the Senate)
RATIONALE
The State Construction Code Commission is an advisory body created to improve the quality of housing for Michigan residents while assisting the housing industry. The Commission consists of 17 members, including the State Fire Marshal (the chief advocate for fire safety in Michigan), or an employee of the Bureau of Fire Services (the body responsible for protecting people and property from exposure to fire dangers through inspection and prevention, and serving the training needs of Michigan firefighters) designated by the State Fire Marshal. In order to ensure that the designated Bureau of Fire Services employee had the proper training and expertise to adequately represent fire safety concerns on the Commission, it has been suggested that he or she be required to hold certain certifications from the National Fire Protection Association.
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Single State Construction Code Act to require a Bureau of Fire Services employee who was designated to serve on the State Construction Code Commission to be certified as a fire protection specialist or as a fire inspector and plans examiner by the National Fire Protection Association.
(According to its website, the National Fire Protection Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating death, injury, and property and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards. It develops and maintains codes and safety standards related to fire, electrical, chemical, building, and life safety, and also offers several professional training and certification programs.)
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
ARGUMENTS
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
Supporting Argument
The Bureau of Fire Services is comprised of individuals from many professional disciplines, including fire suppression, the handling of hazardous materials, and search and rescue. However, this does not mean that those individuals have the appropriate knowledge and expertise to review and adopt construction code standards. Requiring the designated employee on the Commission to be certified as a fire protection specialist or a fire inspector would ensure that he or she had the proper expertise in fire protection, inspection, and planning to best represent the interests of fire services professionals on the Commission. The bill would improve the Commission, and enhance the safety of Michigan residents.