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))