House Bill No. 618, introduced by Representative Fontenot, aims to amend and reenact certain provisions related to the regulation of conveyance devices, specifically focusing on inspection and certification requirements. The bill repeals existing law that mandates annual inspections of life safety systems and equipment by the owner or their representative, replacing it with a requirement for these inspections to be physically witnessed by an inspector appointed by the fire marshal. Additionally, it specifies that the provisions regarding inspections do not apply to buildings with two stories occupied by a single tenant, where employees are regularly present. Instead, these buildings must undergo a safety test of the conveyance device every five years.

The bill also introduces a new fee structure for conveyance device inspections, setting the fee at $150 for both initial and renewal inspections. It establishes that owners of installed conveyance devices must have them inspected annually by a licensed inspector to receive a certificate of operation from the fire marshal. The bill outlines the consequences for non-compliance with inspection orders issued by the fire marshal, including the issuance of warnings. Various provisions of the bill will take effect on different dates, with some becoming effective on January 1, 2026, and others on July 1, 2028.

Statutes affected:
HB618 Original: 40:1646(B), 40:1646(F)