HLS 19RS-871 ORIGINAL 2019 Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO. 322 BY REPRESENTATIVES TURNER AND CARMODY Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana. FIRE PROTECT/FIRE MARSHAL: Provides for the inspection and investigation of premisses by a fire prevention bureau 1 AN ACT 2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1563(D), relative to the state fire marshal; to provide with 3 respect to the duties of fire prevention bureaus; to provide for the inspection of 4 structures, watercraft, and movables; to provide with respect to life safety standards; 5 to provide for investigation of fires; and to provide for related matters. 6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 7 Section 1. R.S. 40:1563(D) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 8 ยง1563. Powers and duties generally; use of deputies; responsibilities of local 9 governing authorities with fire prevention bureaus; open structures and 10 process structures; fees 11 * * * 12 D. For the purpose of this Part, a "fire prevention bureau" is defined as any 13 agency of a locally governed jurisdiction staffed by qualified individuals whose 14 qualifications have been reviewed by the fire marshal whose responsibility it is under 15 the laws or ordinances of that locally governed jurisdiction to inspect structures, 16 watercraft, and movables for compliance with the appropriate fire code applicable 17 as provided in R.S. 40:1578.6 and equivalencies as determined by the fire marshal 18 pursuant to R.S. 40:1574(K) and to conduct investigations of fires in accordance with 19 the provisions of R.S. 40:1566 and R.S. 40:1568. 20 * * * Page 1 of 2 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 19RS-871 ORIGINAL HB NO. 322 DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 322 Original 2019 Regular Session Turner Abstract: Provides for the duty of fire prevention bureaus to investigate fires and inspect structures, watercraft and movables in compliance with fire codes. Present law defines fire prevention bureaus to include any agency with locally governed jurisdiction which inspects structures, watercraft and movables for compliance with the National Fire Protection Association's Life Safety Code and the Southern Standard Building Code. Present law further defines fire prevention bureaus as an agency tasked with investigating fires to determine the cause, origin, and circumstance, and whether any fire had suspicious origins. Proposed law retains present law and further provides that fire prevention bureaus also inspect pursuant to present law (R.S. 40:1574(K)), which allows the fire marshal to take into consideration any practical difficulties or economic hardship to allow alternative arrangements to achieve a minimum acceptable level of life safety. (Amends R.S. 40:1563(D)) Page 2 of 2 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.