Emery casts vote against sprinkler bill

Only six representatives, including Rep. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, voted against HB 952, which requires group homes to install sprinklers.
The measure, which was inspired by the November fire at the Anderson Guest House, in which 11 people were killed, was approved by the House Tuesday on a 152-6 vote.
The bill's official summary reads:

This substitute requires all new long-term care facilities and facilities completing a major renovation that are licensed by the Department of Health and Senior Services to install and maintain approved sprinkler systems in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) by August 28, 2007. All existing long-term care facilities must install and maintain an approved sprinkler system by December 31, 2015. Facilities that take a substantial step to install an approved sprinkler system prior to December 31, 2015, may apply to the department for a matching
funds loan to install the system. The Fire Safety Standards Loan Fund is created as the funding mechanism for these loans. All long-term care facilities must be equipped by August 28, 2007, with a complete fire alarm system; and each floor accessed by residents must be divided into at least two sections by one-hour
rated smoke partition.
The department may require employees and contract personnel of any long-term care facility to be awake, dressed, and prepared to assist residents in case of an emergency and the facility to have an emergency preparedness plan.

The Fire Mitigation System Installer Statewide Qualification Commission, which expires July 1, 2008, is established to study and review the development of a statewide standard for persons installing or inspecting sprinkler systems. Members of the commission will include the directors of the departments of Health and Senior Services, Economic Development, and Public Safety and five individuals appointed by the Governor including two fire mitigation system installers/inspectors who have been
practicing for the past five years, a member of the local jurisdiction for fire mitigation system installers for the past five years, a representative from the relevant skill trade organizations, and one public citizen. The commission must
submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly with its recommendations in support or opposition to the statewide standards by July 1, 2008.