2013 -- S 0761

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LC01983

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - CODE CONSISTENCY COUNCIL

     Introduced By: Senators P Fogarty, McCaffrey, Lombardo, Nesselbush, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: March 13, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 88

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     CODE CONSISTENCY COUNCIL

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     23-88-1. Purpose. -- It is the purpose of this chapter to establish a council to examine

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areas within the building code, fire code, elevator code, and any other codes that overlap, conflict

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or may be inconsistent. The council shall examine these codes and make recommendations that

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may resolve the conflict or inconsistency by selecting the “lead” code on a particular issue, by

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making all the codes consistent or by allowing the inconsistencies as they serve a purpose and do

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not directly conflict with each other.

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     23-88-2. Establishment. – (a) There is hereby established a council to be called the

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“Code Consistency Council” consisting of fifteen (15) members:

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     (1) One of whom shall be the state fire marshal and who shall serve as a co-chairperson;

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     (2) One of whom shall be the state building code commissioner who shall serve as a co-

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chairperson;

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     (3) One of whom shall be the president of the American institute of architects Rhode

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Island, or his or her designee;

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     (4) One of whom shall be the president of the structural engineers association of Rhode

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Island, or his or her designee;

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     (5) One of whom shall be the president of the Rhode Island association of fire fighters, or

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his or her designee;

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     (6) One of whom shall be the president of the Rhode Island chapter of the associated

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general contractors, or his or her designee;

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     (7) One of whom shall be the president of the housing network or his or her designee;

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     (8) Two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the director of the department of labor and

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training, one with an expertise in elevator safety rules and regulations and one with an expertise

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in boiler safety rules and regulations;

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     (9) Two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the League of Cities and Towns, one from a

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city and one from a town to represent the interests of municipalities that administer building code

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issues;

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     (10) One of whom shall be the chairperson of the Rhode Island historical preservation

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and heritage commission, or his or her designee;

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     (11) One of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island builders’ association or his

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or her designee;

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     (12) One of whom shall be an environmental engineer, to be appointed by the governor;

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and

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     (13) One of whom shall be an attorney whose practice is concentrated in building and

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construction, to be appointed by the governor.

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     (b) Forthwith upon the effective date of this chapter, the members of the council shall

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meet at the call of the chairs and organize. Vacancies in the council shall be filled in like manner

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as the original appointment.

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     (c) The department of public safety is hereby directed to provide suitable quarters for the

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council.

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     (d) All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information

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documentary and otherwise to the commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable

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by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

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     23-88-3. Meeting and reporting requirements. – The council shall meet regularly and

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present and report its findings and recommendations to the senate housing and municipal

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government committee by March 31, 2014. The council shall cease to exist on July 1, 2015.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01983

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - CODE CONSISTENCY COUNCIL

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     This act would create a code consistency council to examine the building code, fire code,

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elevator code, and related codes for consistency.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01983

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