PRINTER'S NO. 260
No. 256 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY WAGNER, COSTA, WAUGH, STOUT, TARTAGLIONE, KITCHEN,
MELLOW, BODACK, BELL, BOSCOLA, O'PAKE, MUSTO, KUKOVICH,
HUGHES AND STACK, FEBRUARY 5, 2001
REFERRED TO LABOR AND INDUSTRY, FEBRUARY 5, 2001
AN ACT
1 Establishing a Sprinkler Revolving Loan Fund for the purpose of
2 installing automatic fire sprinkler systems in college and
3 university dormitories in this Commonwealth; and making an
4 appropriation.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the College
9 Dormitory Fire Sprinkler Assistance Act.
10 Section 2. Purpose.
11 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
12 (1) The occurrence of fire in college dormitories and
13 other buildings on college campuses across this Commonwealth
14 poses an ever-present danger to college students. It is a
15 known fact that automatic water sprinkler systems and other
16 fire suppression or control systems are highly effective in
17 providing fire protection for students and property in
18 college dormitories and other buildings on college campuses.
1 The 1999 National Building Code, as published by the Building
2 Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc., does
3 not require existing college dormitories and other buildings
4 of public access housing individuals without such fire
5 protection systems to be retrofitted with automatic water
6 sprinkler systems or automatic fire suppression or control
7 systems. College dormitories housing individuals that lack
8 automatic water sprinkler systems or automatic fire
9 suppression or control systems are more susceptible to fire-
10 related injuries and damage than those buildings equipped
11 with such fire protection equipment. Most colleges and
12 universities have smoke detectors in dormitories, fire
13 extinguishers on every floor and rules designed to prevent
14 fires. While these protections are an important improvement
15 in fire protection and safety, they are not adequate to
16 insure the safety of college students. Without assistance
17 from the Commonwealth, college dormitories remain subject to
18 a greater ongoing threat of fire in the absence of such
19 systems. Therefore, it is the purpose of this act to provide
20 low-interest loans to public and private colleges and
21 universities in this Commonwealth in order for college
22 dormitories to be retrofitted with automatic water sprinkler
23 systems or automatic fire suppression or control systems.
24 (2) It is the purpose of this act to provide low-
25 interest loans to public and private colleges and
26 universities in this Commonwealth to protect the lives and
27 property of the citizens and students. The General Assembly
28 intends that loans provided under this act be used to install
29 and retrofit college dormitories with automatic water
30 sprinkler systems or automatic fire suppression or control
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1 systems.
2 Section 3. Definitions.
3 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
4 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
5 context clearly indicates otherwise:
6 "Agency." The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
7 "Automatic water sprinkler system and automatic fire
8 suppression or control systems." Fire equipment and apparatus
9 used to protect structures and keep them free from fire.
10 "Fund." The Sprinkler Revolving Loan Fund established in
11 this act.
12 Section 4. Sprinkler Loan Program.
13 The agency shall establish and administer a loan program for
14 the purpose of providing low-interest loans to public and
15 private colleges and universities in this Commonwealth to
16 install or retrofit automatic water sprinkler systems or
17 automatic fire suppression or control systems in college and
18 university dormitories. Loan payments shall be credited to the
19 Sprinkler Revolving Loan Fund.
20 Section 5. Loan terms and conditions.
21 Each loan approved by the agency under this act shall contain
22 the following terms and conditions:
23 (1) The loan shall be subject to interest at a rate of
24 2% per annum.
25 (2) The loan shall be repaid within 60 months of the
26 date of the loan.
27 (3) Any other terms and conditions as promulgated by the
28 agency.
29 Section 6. Application.
30 The agency shall develop an application for loans from the
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1 fund. No loan shall be approved by the agency unless the college
2 or university seeking the loan has completed the application and
3 agreed to the terms and conditions required by the agency.
4 Section 7. Rules and regulations.
5 The agency shall promulgate rules and regulations to
6 administer the provisions of this act.
7 Section 8. Sprinkler Revolving Loan Fund.
8 (a) Fund established.--There is hereby established a
9 separate account in the State Treasury, to be known as the
10 Sprinkler Revolving Loan Fund, which shall be administered by
11 the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
12 (b) Appropriation.--The sum of $50,000,000 is hereby
13 appropriated from the General Fund to the Sprinkler Revolving
14 Loan Fund.
15 Section 9. Effective date.
16 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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