96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB5664


 
Introduced 2/9/2010, by Rep. Daniel J. Burke - Donald L. Moffitt
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		





 







New Act











     Creates the Greek Housing Fire Safety Act. Provides that in the case of a Greek housing structure (that is, a fraternity or sorority house) the construction of which is begun on or after January 1, 2011, that construction must include the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems. Provides that in the case of a Greek housing structure construction of which was begun before January 1, 2011, automatic fire sprinkler systems are required in every such structure by January 1, 2019. Provides that if a Greek housing structure does not comply with these provisions, it is unlawful to occupy the structure as a Greek housing structure. Provides for enforcement by a unit of local government (if the Greek housing structure is under the jurisdiction of the unit of local government in whose territory it is located) or an institution of higher education (if the Greek housing structure is under the jurisdiction of the institution of higher education that its residents attend). Effective January 1, 2011.
  















LRB096 18329 DRJ 34185 b

















FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 




  






HB5664

LRB096 18329 DRJ 34185 b





  
1
    AN ACT concerning safety.
  
 
2
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3
represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Greek 
5
Housing Fire Safety Act.
 
6
    Section 5. Legislative findings. Fire deaths and burn 
7
injuries among college students have become a common 
8
occurrence. It has been proven that automatic fire sprinkler 
9
systems are a highly effective method of controlling or 
10
extinguishing a fire in its early stages and protecting the 
11
lives of the building's occupants and the responding 
12
firefighters.  Many students are living in Greek housing that is 
13
not adequately protected with automatic fire sprinkler 
14
systems.  Insurance companies recognize the benefits of 
15
sprinkler systems and have offered significant policy 
16
discounts to Greek organizations to cover housing protected by 
17
automatic sprinkler systems.   Dormitories in the State of 
18
Illinois are already required to have automatic fire sprinkler 
19
systems by 2013.
 
20
    Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
21
    "Automatic fire sprinkler system" means a fire sprinkler 
22
system as defined in the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing 
 


 






HB5664
- 2 -
LRB096 18329 DRJ 34185 b




1
Act.
2
    "Greek housing structure" means a structure that provides 
3
housing for members of a social fraternity or sorority exempt 
4
from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code 
5
of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 50(a)), the active membership of which 
6
consists primarily of students in attendance at a public or 
7
private institution of higher education. The structure may also 
8
provide for other activities in addition to housing.
 
9
    Section 15. Automatic fire sprinkler systems required.
10
    (a) In the case of a Greek housing structure the 
11
construction of which is begun on or after January 1, 2011, 
12
that construction must include the installation of automatic 
13
fire sprinkler systems.
14
    (b) In the case of a Greek housing structure construction 
15
of which was begun before January 1, 2011, automatic fire 
16
sprinkler systems are required in every such structure by 
17
January 1, 2019.
18
    (c) If a Greek housing structure does not comply with this 
19
Section, it is unlawful to occupy the structure as a Greek 
20
housing structure.
21
    (d) Nothing in this Act may be construed to abrogate any 
22
statute, rule, or ordinance requiring that a fire extinguisher 
23
be present in a Greek housing structure.
 
24
    Section 20. Enforcement of Act.
 


 






HB5664
- 3 -
LRB096 18329 DRJ 34185 b




1
    (a) If a Greek housing structure is under the jurisdiction 
2
of the unit of local government in whose territory it is 
3
located, that unit of local government is responsible for 
4
enforcing this Act with respect to that structure.
5
    (b) If a Greek housing structure is under the jurisdiction 
6
of the institution of higher education that its residents 
7
attend, that institution of higher education is responsible for 
8
enforcing this Act with respect to that structure.
 
 
9
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 
10
1, 2011.