A03888
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
563
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY LAUGHLIN, FONTANA, ARGALL, SCHWANK, CAPPELLETTI
AND REGAN, APRIL 16, 2021
REFERRED TO LABOR AND INDUSTRY, APRIL 16, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 27, 1927 (P.L.465, No.299), entitled
"An act to provide for the safety of persons employed,
housed, or assembled in certain buildings and structures by
requiring certain construction and ways of egress, equipment,
and maintenance; providing for the licensing of
projectionists, except in cities of the first class and
second class; requiring the submission of plans for
examination and approval; providing for the promulgation of
rules and regulations for the enforcement of this act;
providing for the enforcement of this act by the Department
of Labor and Industry, the Department of Health, boards of
school directors and, in certain cases, by the chiefs of fire
departments in cities of the third class; providing penalties
for violations of the provisions of this act; and repealing
certain acts," further providing for standards for Class VI
buildings.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 3.6(f)(1)(i), (f.1) and (g) of the act of
April 27, 1927 (P.L.465, No.299), referred to as the Fire and
Panic Act, are amended to read:
Section 3.6. Standards for Class VI Buildings.--
(f) (1) (i) As to family [child day-care] child-care
homes, a facility [registered] licensed by the Department of
[Public Welfare] Human Services as of [April 4, 1992,] the
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effective date of this section, shall be permitted [one full
registration period of twenty-four (24) months beyond] 12 months
from the effective date of this section, or until the expiration
of [the current certificate of registration] its current
license, whichever is longer, to comply with the requirements of
this section.
(f.1) (1) The smoke detection [devises] devices required
under this section [need not] shall be interconnected [ or
electronically connected ] via hardwire, Bluetooth connectivity
or any other means that allow for communication between devices
for family [child day-care] child- care homes. For the purposes
of this act, [noninterconnected] battery-operated,
interconnected smoke detection [devises shall be deemed
acceptable where: ] devices must meet the following conditions:
(i) each [devise is an enclosed nonreplacable battery smoke
detector unit which meets applicable UL standards and has a
minimum ten-year limited warranty] device shall be powered by a
nonreplaceable lithium battery listed by Underwriters
Laboratories that is warranted for ten (10) years commencing
with the date of purchase; and
(ii) the activation of each detector results in an alarm
that is audible to persons in the indoor child-care space with
all intervening doors closed.
(f.1) [(1) The smoke detection devises required under this
section need not be interconnected or electronically connected
for family child day-care homes. For the purposes of this act,
noninterconnected smoke detection devises shall be deemed
acceptable where:
(i) each devise is an enclosed nonreplacable battery smoke
detector unit which meets applicable UL standards and has a
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minimum ten-year limited warranty commencing with the date of
purchase; and
(ii) the activation of each detector results in an alarm
that is audible to persons in the indoor child-care space with
all intervening doors closed.] The following shall apply:
(1.1) T he smoke alarms required under this section shall be
interconnected via hardwire, Bluetooth connectivity or any other
means that allow for communication between smoke alarms for
family child- care homes. The following shall apply:
(i) The activation of each smoke alarm shall result in an
alarm that is audible to persons in the indoor child-care space
with all intervening doors closed.
(ii) Each smoke alarm shall, at the time of installation, be
approved by a testing laboratory recognized by the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration of the United States Department
of Labor to test and certify smoke alarms.
(2) Family [child day-care] child-care home operators shall
maintain, in their fire drill logs, proof of purchase, including
the date of purchase of the smoke [detector] alarm.
(3) A family child-care home shall:
(i) Have a smoke detector alarm on each floor and in the
basement.
(ii) Have a portable fire extinguisher rated for class B
fires in the kitchen and other cooking areas.
(iii) Meet the exiting requirements for an R-3 occupancy and
licensure under 55 Pa. Code Ch. 3290 (relating to family child
day care homes).
(g) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"Family [child day-care] child-care home" means a home other
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than the child's own home in which child [day] care is provided
at any one time to four (4), five (5) or six (6) children
unrelated to the operator.
["Group child day-care home" means a home other than a
child's own home in which child day care is provided at any one
time for more than six (6) but fewer than thirteen (13) children
who are unrelated to the operator.]
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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