Bill Text: NJ A822 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires fire suppression systems in all elementary and secondary schools 12,000 square feet or larger.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A822 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A822-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN
District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Requires fire suppression systems in all elementary and secondary schools 12,000 square feet or larger.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning school fire safety and supplementing chapter 33 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, an elementary or secondary school that is 12,000 square feet or larger shall be equipped with an automatic fire suppression system.
2. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs, shall adopt pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act including rules that prioritize, at the discretion of the Commissioner of Education, elementary and secondary schools for the installation of automatic fire suppression systems.
3. The State Treasurer, after consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall have the authority to apply State funds otherwise available to State departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, including the proceeds of bonds issued by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority pursuant to section 14 of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-14), for the purpose of securing compliance with the requirements established pursuant to this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the installation of automatic fire suppression systems in elementary and secondary schools 12,000 square feet or larger. Under the bill's provisions, the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs, is to adopt regulations necessary to implement this requirement, including rules for the prioritization of elementary and secondary schools for the installation of the automatic fire suppression systems. The bill provides the State Treasurer with the authority to apply State funds otherwise available to State departments, agencies, or instrumentalities, including the proceeds of bonds issued by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for school facilities projects under the provisions of the "Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act," P.L.2000, c.72, for the purpose of securing compliance with the bill's requirements.
Since the 1980's, fire suppression systems have been required in all newly-constructed schools 12,000 square feet or larger.
