SB478: Bill Text

LRB-3968/1

MDK:jld

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Senate BILL 478

December 29, 2015 - Introduced by Senators Moulton, Tiffany and Wanggaard, cosponsored by Representatives Bernier, Tittl, Ballweg, Knodl, Horlacher, T. Larson, A. Ott, E. Brooks, Ripp, Murtha, Craig, Swearingen and Macco. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism.

SB478,1,3 An Act to amend 60.555; and to create 101.14 (4) (de) of the statutes; relating to: requirements for automatic fire suppression systems at certain buildings on fairgrounds.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under this bill, certain buildings on fairgrounds are not required to have automatic fire suppression systems. Current law allows the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) to impose requirements on buildings for fire safety purposes. This bill prohibits DSPS from requiring a county or organized agricultural society, association, or board to install or maintain an automatic fire suppression system for a building on fairgrounds that satisfies the following two requirements. First, the building must be open to the public only for seasonal or temporary event use for fewer than 500 hours per year. Second, public access to the building must be provided by garage style doors that remain open when the building is open to the public.

The bill also prohibits a city, village, or town from enacting or enforcing an ordinance that requires a county or organized agricultural society, association, or board to install or maintain an automatic fire suppression system for a building on county fairgrounds that satisfies the above requirements. If a city, village, or town has in effect on the effective date of the bill an ordinance with such a requirement, the bill provides that the requirement does not apply and may not be enforced.

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

SB478,1 Section 1. 60.555 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB478,2,6 60.555 Fire safety regulations. The Except as provided in s. 101.14 (4) (de), the town board, by ordinance, may adopt regulations to prevent, detect and suppress fire and related fire hazards. The regulations may include provision for the inspection, at reasonable times, of property in the town for compliance with regulations adopted under this section.

SB478,2 Section 2. 101.14 (4) (de) of the statutes is created to read:

SB478,2,13 101.14 (4) (de) 1. Notwithstanding par. (a) and sub. (1) (a) and s. 101.02 (15) (j), the department may not require, and notwithstanding s. 101.02 (7) (a) and (7r), no city, village, or town may enact or enforce an ordinance that requires, a county or organized agricultural society, association, or board to install or maintain an automatic fire suppression system in, or as part of, a building on fairgrounds if all of the following are satisfied:

SB478,2,15 a. The building is open to the public only for seasonal or temporary event use for fewer than 500 hours per year.

SB478,2,17 b. Public access to the building is provided by garage style doors that remain open when the building is open to the public.

SB478,3,2 2. Notwithstanding s. 101.02 (7) (a) and (7r), if a city, village, or town has in effect on the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date], an ordinance with a requirement that is inconsistent with subd. 1., the requirement does not apply and may not be enforced.

SB478,3,3 (End)