The proposed bill would amend current statutes related to the Office of the State Fire Marshal by removing the requirement that deputy fire marshals must have at least five years of experience in fire safety. Additionally, it would allow cities or towns with populations of 30,000 or fewer to review and approve construction plans for state, county, and public school buildings, rather than requiring submission to the Office. If a city or town adopts this process, they must review plans within 60 days and construction cannot begin until approval is granted.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a phased permitting process, allowing applicants to choose between a one-phase or two-phase permit application. For a one-phase application, the State Forester must make a final determination within 60 days, while for a two-phase application, an initial determination is required within 30 days, followed by a final determination within 60 days. Construction is prohibited from commencing until the plans are approved and a permit is issued, or if the State Forester fails to act within the specified timeframes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 37-1382, 37-1383