ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
building and fire
safety; continuation
Continues the Department of Building and Fire Safety for ten years.
The Arizona Department of Building and Fire Safety (Department) was established in 1986 through a merger of the Office of the Fire Marshal and the Office of Manufactured Housing. Statute directs the Department to further the public safety and welfare by reducing hazards to life and property through the maintenance and enforcement of the state fire code, and by maintaining and enforcing standards of quality and safety for manufactured homes, mobile homes, factory-built buildings and recreational vehicles. The Department is organized into three offices: the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Office of Manufactured Housing and the Office of Administration.
The Office of the Auditor General conducted a sunset review of the Department in 2001. The Committee of Reference of the Senate Government and the House of Representatives Retirement & Government Operations Committees held a public hearing to review the Department responses and to hear public testimony. The Committee of Reference recommended the continuation of the Department for ten years and that statute be amended to allows tenants to apply for and receive monetary assistance from the mobile home relocation fund.
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state general fund associated with this legislation.
1. Continues the Department of Building and Fire Safety until July 1, 2012.
2. Changes the timeframe for a tenant to apply to the Department for reimbursement of relocation expenses from at least 15 days before the relocation to within 60 days after the relocation in order to be eligible for relocation expenses.
3. Requires the drinking water provider to consult with the fire code authority and provide the fire code authority with an opportunity to comment before installing or requiring the installation of backflow equipment that exceeds the minimum standards established by the state fire code.
4. Authorizes a fire code authority or a drinking water provider, rather than both entities, to require the installation of backflow prevention equipment.
5. Repeals the statutes governing the Department on January 1, 2013.
6. Repeals the sunset date of the Department on July 1, 2002 and the corresponding termination statutes.
7. Describes the purpose of the Department.
8. Contains a July 1, 2002 retroactivity date for the provisions relating to the continuation of the Department.
9. Makes technical changes.
10. Provides for a general effective date unless otherwise specified.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
· Removes the expanded duties of the Fire Marshall.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
· Requires the drinking water provider to consult with the fire code authority and allows the fire code authority the opportunity to comment before installation or requiring the installation of backflow equipment that exceeds the minimum standards established by the state fire code.
House Action Senate Action
RGO 2/12/02 DP 8-0-0-2-0 GOV 4/22/02 DPA 5-0-1-0
3rd Read 4/9/02 45-9-6-0 3rd Read 5/2/02 28-0-2-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
May 2, 2002