House Bill No. by Representative Fontenot seeks to amend the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code, particularly focusing on commercial building codes. The bill mandates that the state fire marshal review all structures, excluding one- and two-family dwellings, for compliance within fourteen days of plan submission before any construction permits can be issued. It establishes the parish or municipal building code enforcement officer as the primary authority for enforcing compliance, while also introducing new enforcement procedures and a fee structure for plan reviews and fire safety systems. The bill aims to streamline the compliance review process while ensuring safety standards are upheld in commercial construction.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the enforcement authority of the state fire marshal and local building code enforcement officers, requiring municipalities to accept the fire marshal's determinations regarding life safety and fire protection. It repeals outdated provisions that allowed third-party providers to conduct plan reviews and inspections, and it removes the requirement for contractors to retain reviewed plans. The bill also allows the state fire marshal to consider economic hardships when enforcing code requirements and enables the adoption of alternative construction materials and methods. Overall, the proposed changes aim to enhance compliance with safety regulations while maintaining the integrity of historic buildings.

Statutes affected:
HB928 Original: 40:6(B), 40:23(A)(1), 40:39(A), 40:1(A), 40:1574(B), 40:23(H), 40:24(B), 40:33(A), 40:34(B), 40:1(B)(4)