SCHOOL FIRE ALARM REQUIREMENTS

House Bills 4066 (H-1) and 4067 (H-1) as referred to second committee

Sponsor:  Rep. Julie Calley

1st Committee:  Regulatory Reform

2nd Committee:  Ways and Means

Complete to 3-4-19

SUMMARY:

            House Bills 4066 and 4067 would amend the Fire Prevention Code and the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, respectively, to create an exception from requirements for manual fire alarm boxes in schools under certain circumstances.

Under the bills, a school with a vestibule would not be required to install a manual fire alarm box within the vestibule if a manual fire alarm box were located within five feet of interior door of the vestibule.

Each bill would take effect 90 days after being enacted into law.

Proposed MCL 29.3d                         (HB 4066)

Proposed MCL 125.1504h     (HB 4067)

FISCAL IMPACT:

            House Bills 4066 and 4067 would not have a significant fiscal impact on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

BRIEF DISCUSSION:

Supporters of the bills argued that they would help protect schoolchildren by preventing unauthorized individuals from having access to a fire alarm near the entrance of a school. They noted that schools with two sets of doors at the main entrances often leave the first set unlocked but lock the second set to outsiders. Supporters expressed concern that a fire alarm placed between these sets of doors would still be accessible to persons from outside the school, potentially including individuals of malicious intent who could trigger the alarm in an attempt to force an evacuation.

POSITIONS:

The following entities indicated support for the bills:

            Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (2-26-19)

            West Michigan Talent Triangle (2-19-19)

            Oakland Schools (2-19-19)

            Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (2-19-19)

            Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators (2-19-19)

            Michigan Association of School Boards (2-19-19)

            National Time & Signal (2-26-19)

            Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Jackson, Lenawee, and Monroe County ISDs (2-26-19)

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Nick Kelly

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Marcus Coffin

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.