AB544: Bill Text

LRB-3164/1

RNK:jld:rs

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 544

July 7, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Kreibich, Krawczyk, Hines, Ott, McCormick, Molepske, Lamb, Vruwink, Cullen and Shilling, cosponsored by Senators Brown, Olsen, Risser, Lassa and Plale. Referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities.

AB544,1,5 An Act to renumber 101.14 (4) (b) 1.; to renumber and amend 101.14 (4) (b) 3.; to amend 101.14 (4) (b) 2. a. and 101.14 (4) (b) 2. c.; and to create 101.14 (4) (b) 1m. and 101.14 (4) (b) 3. c., d., e. and f. of the statutes; relating to: automatic fire sprinkler systems in certain residence halls and other student residential facilities and granting rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, all University of Wisconsin (UW) System residence halls and dormitories over 60 feet tall that were constructed before April 26, 2000, must be fitted with an automatic fire sprinkler system on each floor before January 1, 2006, with the exception of Ogg Residence Hall at UW-Madison. The requirement does not apply to that building until January 1, 2008. This bill creates automatic fire sprinkler requirements for residence halls and dormitories of other institutions of higher education and certain other student residential facilities. Under this bill, all residence halls and dormitories that are over 60 feet tall, that are owned or operated by an institution of higher education other than the UW System, and that are constructed before the bill becomes law must be fitted with an automatic fire sprinkler system on each floor by the first day of the 60th month after the bill becomes law. In addition, all student residential facilities that are operated by fraternities, sororities, or other organizations authorized or sponsored by an institution of higher education, and all privately owned and operated student residential buildings over 60 feet in height, that are constructed before the date on which the bill becomes law must be fitted with an automatic fire sprinkler system on each floor by the first day of the 60th month after the bill becomes law.

Under current law, all UW System residence halls and dormitories that are constructed on or after April 26, 2000, must be fitted with an automatic fire sprinkler system on each floor during construction. This bill creates a similar requirement applicable to residence halls and dormitories of other institutions of higher education and certain other student residential facilities. Under this bill, all residence halls and dormitories that are owned or operated by an institution of higher education other than the UW System, all student residential facilities that are operated by fraternities, sororities, or other organizations authorized or sponsored by an institution of higher education, and all privately owned and operated student residential buildings that are constructed on or after the date on which the bill becomes law must be fitted with an automatic fire sprinkler system on each floor during construction.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

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

AB544, s. 1 Section 1. 101.14 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 101.14 (4) (b) 1r.

AB544, s. 2 Section 2. 101.14 (4) (b) 1m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB544,2,8 101.14 (4) (b) 1m. In this paragraph, "private student residential building" means a privately owned and operated residential building that has a capacity of at least 100 occupants, that is occupied by persons at least 80 percent of whom are enrolled in an institution of higher education, and that has attributes usually associated with a student residence hall or dormitory such as a food service plan or occupancy by a resident advisor.

AB544, s. 3 Section 3. 101.14 (4) (b) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB544,2,11 101.14 (4) (b) 2. a. Subdivision 1. 1r. does not apply to any open parking structure, as defined by the department.

AB544, s. 4 Section 4. 101.14 (4) (b) 2. c. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB544,3,3 101.14 (4) (b) 2. c. Except as provided in subd. 3., subd. 1. 1r. does not apply to any building over 60 feet in height the construction of which is completed or is begun prior to July 3, 1974.

AB544, s. 5 Section 5. 101.14 (4) (b) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 101.14 (4) (b) 3. (intro.) and amended to read:

AB544,3,7 101.14 (4) (b) 3. (intro.) The rules of the department shall require every all of the following:

AB544,3,14 a. Every residence hall and dormitory over 60 feet in height, the initial construction of which was begun before April 26, 2000, that is owned or operated by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System to contain an automatic fire sprinkler system on each floor by January 1, 2006, except that those rules shall not apply to Ogg Residence Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison until January 1, 2008. Notwithstanding par. (c) 1., the rules of the department shall further require every

AB544,3,18 b. Every residence hall and dormitory, the initial construction of which is begun on or after April 26, 2000, that is owned or operated by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System to have an automatic fire sprinkler system installed on each floor at the time the residence hall or dormitory is constructed.

AB544, s. 6 Section 6. 101.14 (4) (b) 3. c., d., e. and f. of the statutes are created to read:

AB544,4,2 101.14 (4) (b) 3. c. Every residence hall and dormitory over 60 feet in height, the initial construction of which was begun before the effective date of this subd. 3. c. .... [revisor inserts date], that is owned or operated by an institution of higher education, other than a residence hall or dormitory that is owned or operated by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, to contain an automatic fire sprinkler system on each floor by the first day of the 60th month beginning after the effective date of this subd. 3. c. .... [revisor inserts date].

AB544,4,8 d. Every residence hall and dormitory, the initial construction of which is begun on or after the effective date of this subd. 3. d. .... [revisor inserts date], that is owned or operated by an institution of higher education, other than a residence hall or dormitory that is owned or operated by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, to have an automatic fire sprinkler system installed on each floor at the time the residence hall or dormitory is constructed.

AB544,4,16 e. Every student residential facility operated by a fraternity, sorority, or other organization authorized or sponsored by an institution of higher education, the initial construction of which was begun before the effective date of this subd. 3. e. .... [revisor inserts date], and every private student residential building over 60 feet in height, the initial construction of which was begun before the effective date of this subd. 3. e. .... [revisor inserts date], to contain an automatic fire sprinkler system on each floor by the first day of the 60th month beginning after the effective date of this subd. 3. e. .... [revisor inserts date].

AB544,4,23 f. Every student residential facility operated by a fraternity, sorority, or other organization authorized or sponsored by an institution of higher education, the initial construction of which is begun on or after the effective date of this subd. 3. f. .... [revisor inserts date], and every private student residential building, the initial construction of which is begun on or after the effective date of this subd. 3. f. .... [revisor inserts date], to have an automatic fire sprinkler system installed on each floor at the time the facility is constructed.

AB544,4,24 (End)