BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Carol Liu, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 1112
AUTHOR: Hueso
AMENDED: March 25, 2014
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: April 30, 2014
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Kathleen Chavira
SUBJECT : Fire alarm system inspections.
SUMMARY
This bill requires that a public or private school submit a
copy of records of maintenance, inspection and testing of
fire alarm systems to the chief of any city or county fire
department or district providing fire protection services,
as specified, and requires the review of these documents
within a reasonable time.
BACKGROUND
Current law requires the State Fire Marshal to prepare,
adopt, and submit building standards relating to fire and
panic safety and to prepare and adopt regulations
establishing minimum requirements for the prevention of
fire and for the protection of life and property against
fire and panic. These regulations must relate to the means
of egress and the adequacy of exits from, the installation
and maintenance of fire extinguishing and fire alarm
systems in, the storage and handling of combustible or
explosive materials or substances, and the installation and
maintenance of appliances, equipment, decorations, security
bars, grills, grates, and furnishings that present a fire,
explosion, or panic hazard, as specified. (Health and
Safety Code �13143)
Current law requires local fire departments to annually
inspect every building used as a public or private school
within his or her jurisdiction, for the purpose of
enforcing regulations adopted pursuant to the Health and
Safety Code � 13143 not less than once each year. The State
Fire Marshal, and his/her authorized representatives, are
required to make these inspections not less than once each
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year in areas outside of corporate cities and districts
providing fire protection services. (Health and Safety Code
� 13146.3)
ANALYSIS
This bill :
1) Requires a public or private school to submit a copy
of the maintenance, inspection, and testing records of
the fire alarm system to the chief of any city or
county fire department or district, providing fire
protection services, as specified.
2) Requires the review of these records by the chief of
any city or county fire department or district,
providing fire protection services, as specified,
within a reasonable time.
3) Makes other technical changes.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . According to the author, between
2007 and 2012 there were 990 incidents of fires at
schools in California, resulting in over $57 million
dollars in property damage and $20 million in content
damage. The author reports that one fire alarm
maintenance report in his Senate district showed that
over 300 alarms were in disrepair, and parents had
concerns that certain parts of the school could not
hear fire alarms go off. According to the author,
while schools are required to complete the annual
report on the maintenance of their fire alarm systems,
current law only requires that the report be made
available to the fire department at their request.
This bill will help increase communication between the
fire department and schools.
2) Mandated costs . Legislative Counsel has indicated
that this bill creates a state-mandated local program
relative to the imposition of a new duty on a city or
county fire official, and has identified potential
reimbursable mandated costs for school districts and
local agencies. According to several local fire
departments, this bill reiterates existing department
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policies that require school districts to undertake
the activity required by this bill.
SUPPORT
Office of the Fire Marshall, Imperial Beach Fire Department
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
National City Fire Department
OPPOSITION
None received.