Requests the State Licensing Board for Contractors and the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council to study and report to the legislature findings and recommendations regarding adoption of the fortified roof building standards into the building codes for the coastal zone.
Impact
By considering the adoption of fortified roof standards, SR200 aims to improve the overall safety and insurability of homes in hurricane-prone areas. Homes built or retrofitted to these standards are shown to withstand hurricane-force winds better than those constructed with lesser standards. The potential increase in fortified homes is expected to make the housing stock in Louisiana less risky for insurers, likely leading to lower premiums for homeowners and greater availability of insurance options. This legislative push signals a proactive step towards mitigating future damage and loss from storms.
Summary
Senate Resolution 200 (SR200) urges the State Licensing Board for Contractors and the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council to study and report on the adoption of fortified roof building standards into the building codes for the coastal zone. The bill addresses the pressing issue of homeowners' insurance affordability and availability in Louisiana, exacerbated by the frequency of hurricanes and tropical storms that cause significant property damage. The resolution highlights the need for improved building standards to enhance the resilience of homes against storm damage and to support the insurance market in the state.
Sentiment
The sentiment surrounding SR200 appears to be supportive, focusing on the benefits of enhancing building standards to protect homeowners and the broader community. Advocates emphasize that implementing stricter building codes will not only improve public safety but also help stabilize the insurance market in Louisiana, making it more attractive to insurers. This resonates positively among stakeholders seeking solutions to the state's ongoing homeowners insurance crisis.
Contention
While SR200 promotes a clear direction towards improving building codes, potential contention might arise regarding the implementation of these standards. Opponents may raise concerns about the costs associated with retrofitting homes and the regulatory burden it may impose on homeowners and contractors. The call for a study will likely initiate discussions around the feasibility of adopting such standards and the specific legislative proposals that may emerge from the findings, which could lead to debates on balancing safety, affordability, and regulatory control.
Urges and requests the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to study and make recommendations on ways to increase urban forestry in the state.
Directs the Louisiana Department of Health to study and make recommendations to the legislature on how to reduce the number of licensing boards of health professions
Urges the commissioner of insurance to create the Hurricane Mitigation Commission to study and report findings and recommendations relative to the handling of property insurance claims in the wake of hurricanes and the necessity of a catastrophe savings account.
Requests the Louisiana Department of Health to work with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to study and make recommendations to establish a more efficient process for licensing nondiagnostic technicians
Requests the Louisiana Department of Health to continue the task force to study, identify, and make recommendations to address the shortage of specialist physicians in this state
Requests the Louisiana Department of Health to create a task force to study, identify, and make recommendations to address the specialist physician shortage in the state
Requests the Louisiana State Licensing Board of Contractors and the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council to study and report to the legislature information and recommendations regarding adoption of the fortified roof building standards into the building codes for the coastal zone
Requests the Louisiana Department of Insurance to conduct a comprehensive study on incentives and standard benchmarks for integration into the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program
Urges and requests the La. Housing Corporation to consider emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency characteristics when implementing design criteria for housing developments competing for funding in programs administered by the corporation office and to explore sources of federal funds to retrofit existing buildings with these same design criteria
Urges and requests the La. Housing Corporation to consider emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency characteristics when implementing design criteria for housing developments competing for funding in programs administered by the corporation and to explore sources of federal funds to retrofit existing buildings with these same design criteria