SB379: Bill Text

Under rules promulgated by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), the construction of, addition to, or alteration of a public building or a place of employment (building project) may not begin until plans for the building project have been reviewed and approved by DSPS or a local unit of government appointed by DSPS, with limited exceptions. Under these rules, a person may start the construction of the footings and foundation of a public building or place of employment before the plans for the building project have been approved if DSPS authorizes the start of the construction. Under the rules, DSPS must make a determination whether to authorize the start of construction within three business days after receiving the plans for review and must make a determination on the overall plans for the project within 15 business days after receiving the plans for review.

Under current statutory law administered by DSPS, no person may operate a public swimming pool or a water attraction (water recreation facility) unless DSPS has approved the plans for the construction, alteration, or reconstruction of the water recreation facility. Under current law, there is no exemption for starting construction of any footing or foundation for a water recreation facility before the plans are reviewed and approved by DSPS. There also is no deadline imposed on DSPS for making a determination on whether to approve a plan for a water recreation facility.

This bill does the following:

1. Incorporates into the statutes parts of the rules regarding DSPS's review of plans for public buildings and places of employment.

2. Allows a person to start construction of footings and foundations as part of a building project or a water recreation facility without having DSPS's authorization to start the construction of the footings and foundations.

3. Requires DSPS to make a determination on the overall plans for a building project or a water recreation facility within 15 days after receiving the plans for review.

Also under the bill, a person who elects to start construction on footings or foundations of a building project or water recreation facility shall proceed at the person's own risk without assurance that the submitted plans for the building project or water recreation facility will be approved.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB379,1 Section 1. 101.02 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB379,2,6 101.02 (5) (b) For the purpose of making any investigation or reviewing any plans with regard to any employment or place of employment or public building, the secretary may appoint, by an order in writing, any deputy who is a citizen of the state, or any other competent person as an agent whose duties shall be prescribed in such order.

SB379,2 Section 2. 101.028 of the statutes is created to read:

SB379,2,8 101.028 Plan review for building projects. (1) Definitions. In this section:

SB379,2,10 (a) "Building project" means a project to construct, add to, or alter a public building or a building that is a place of employment.

SB379,2,13 (b) "Department" includes a city, village, town, county, or other entity that has been appointed as an agent for the department for purposes of reviewing plans for building projects.

SB379,2,15 (2) Review required. Except as provided in subs. (3) and (4), no person may engage in a building project unless all of the following have taken place:

SB379,3,3 (a) An application containing all of the plans, specifications, and other documents, as required by rule, for the building project has been submitted to the department for review.

SB379,3,4 (b) The department has reviewed and approved the submitted application.

SB379,3,6 (c) The applicable fee for the review of the plans and specifications, as established by the department by rule, has been paid.

SB379,3,8 (3) Exemption. Subsection (2) does not apply to a building project that is exempted by rule by the department.

SB379,3,11 (4) Starting construction. (a) Notwithstanding sub. (2), a person may start the placement of any footings or foundation for a building project if all of the following apply:

SB379,3,12 1. The application as required under sub. (2) (a) has been submitted.

SB379,3,13 2. The fee specified in sub. (2) (c) has been paid.

SB379,3,16 3. The plans, specifications, and documents submitted with the application under sub. (2) (a) have been prepared by an architect or engineer licensed to do business in this state, except as provided in par. (b).

SB379,3,20 (b) Any plans, specifications, or documents that are prepared for a fire suppression, alarm, or detection system for a building project shall be prepared by a person who has received a permit issued by this state to design fire protection systems pursuant to s. 443.07 (3).

SB379,3,25 (5) Assumption of risk. A person who elects to start the placement of footings or foundation as authorized under under sub. (4) shall proceed at the person's own risk without assurance that the proposed plans and specifications for the building project will be approved by the department or that the plans and specifications will not be modified by the department.

SB379,4,5 (6) Action on application. Upon receipt of an application containing all of the plans, specifications, and documents required for the review of the building project, and the applicable fee, the department shall make a determination either approving or denying the plans and specifications within 15 business days after receipt of the application.

SB379,3 Section 3. 145.26 (4g) and (4r) of the statutes are created to read:

SB379,4,9 145.26 (4g) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (4), a person may start the placement of any footings or foundation as part of the construction, alteration, or reconstruction of a public swimming pool or water attraction if all of the following apply:

SB379,4,11 1. The person has submitted to the department the plans and specifications specified under sub. (2).

SB379,4,13 2. The plans and specifications have been prepared by an architect or engineer licensed to do business in this state.

SB379,4,14 3. The applicable fee under sub. (3) has been paid.

SB379,4,19 (b) A person who elects to start the placement of footings or foundation as authorized under par. (a) shall proceed at the person's own risk without assurance that the proposed plans and specifications for the public swimming pool or water attraction will be approved by the department or that the proposed plans and specifications will not be modified by the department.

SB379,4,23 (4r) Upon receipt of all the plans and specifications required for the review of the public swimming pool or water attraction, and the applicable fee, the department shall make a determination either approving or denying the plans and specifications within 15 business days after receipt of the plans and specifications.

SB379,4 Section 4. Initial applicability.

SB379,5,3 (1) The treatment of section 101.028 of the statutes first applies to applications that contain all of the required plans, specifications, and documents and that are submitted on the effective date of this subsection.

SB379,5,5 (2) The treatment of section 145.26 (4g) and (4r) of the statutes first applies to plans and specifications that are submitted on the effective date of this subsection.

SB379,5,6 (End)