SJ0070 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0070 LRB098 20736 GRL 58906 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The desire to maintain and enhance fire prevention and safety standards is a primary concern to the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, There are many effective fire prevention and fire safety systems and techniques available in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, State and local rules and regulations related to the implementation of fire safety systems are varied and sometimes in conflict; and

WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of the people of the State of Illinois to implement the most effective methods of fire prevention and fire safety; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Task Force on Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Education, consisting of 23 members appointed as follows:

(1) one member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall serve as a co-chairperson of the Task Force;

(2) one member of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(3) one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall serve as a co-chairperson of the Task Force;

(4) one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(5) two members of the general public appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(6) one member appointed by the Illinois State Fire Marshal;

(7) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a statewide association of fire chiefs;

(8) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a statewide association of firefighters;

(9) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a northern Illinois advisory board focused on fire sprinkler education;

(10) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing the Joint Labor and Management Committee created under the Fire Department Promotion Act;

(11) one member appointed by the Mayor of the City of Chicago;

(12) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a statewide organization representing municipalities;

(13) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a statewide association of realtors;

(14) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a statewide association of home construction contractors;

(15) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a statewide association of the pipe trades;

(16) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a statewide labor organization representing more than one international union;

(17) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a nationwide association dedicated to fire, electrical, and building safety;

(18) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a single statewide association of condominium, townhouse, and homeowner associations;

(19) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a Chicago-based organization of building owners and managers;

(20) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a statewide association of apartment building owners and managers in the Chicago area;

(21) one member appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing a statewide association of the insurance trade; and

(22) one member appointed by the Executive Director of the Illinois Finance Authority; and be it further

RESOLVED, That all appointments to the Task Force shall be made as soon as practicable after the adoption of this resolution; vacancies in the Task Force shall be filled by their respective appointing authorities within 30 days after the vacancy occurs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members shall serve without compensation; the Task Force may employ skilled experts with the approval of the co-chairpersons and shall receive the cooperation of any State agencies it deems appropriate to assist the Task Force in carrying out its duties; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall be considered members with voting rights; a quorum of the Task Force shall consist of a simple majority of the members of the Task Force; the Task Force shall meet initially at the call of the co-chairpersons, no later than 90 days after the adoption of this resolution, and shall thereafter meet at the call of the co-chairpersons; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall research, analyze, and consider:

(1) the benefits of legislation requiring fire sprinkler systems in homes, places of employment, and highrise buildings;

(2) the costs and benefits of fire sprinkler systems, hard-wired smoke detectors, and public education about fire drills and other prevention education measures;

(3) the actions of other states pertaining to fire sprinklers, including but not limited to long-term financing options;

(4) the actions of units of local government pertaining to fire sprinkler mandates and other options or alternatives to mandates;

(5) insurance benefits and discounts for structures with fire sprinkler systems;

(6) code interpretations between State agencies and units of local government;

(7) collaboration by governmental bodies to explore assistance options available to property owners and renters wishing to install fire sprinkler systems; and

(8) the creation of legislative recommendations to the General Assembly; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall summarize its findings and recommendations in a report to the General Assembly on or before March 1, 2015.