Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

67th Legislature                                                                                                     SB 178.1
                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 178
    INTRODUCED BY C. FRIEDEL, M. BLASDEL, J. ELLSWORTH, S. FITZPATRICK, G. HERTZ, M. LANG, T.
                                                 MCGILLVRAY, R. TEMPEL
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   A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT PROHIBITING STATE BUILDING CODES FROM REQUIRING
   MANDATORY INSTALLATION OF FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS;
   AMENDING SECTION 50-60-203, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.”
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   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
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              Section 1. Section 50-60-203, MCA, is amended to read:
              "50-60-203. Department to adopt state building code by rule. (1) (a) The department shall adopt
   rules relating to the construction of, the installation of equipment in, and standards for materials to be used in all
   buildings or classes of buildings, including provisions dealing with safety, accessibility to persons with
   disabilities, sanitation, and conservation of energy. The adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is of
   significant public interest for purposes of 2-3-103.
              (b)   Rules concerning the conservation of energy must conform to the policy established in 50-60-801
   and to relevant policies developed under the provisions of Title 90, chapter 4, part 10.
              (2)   The department may adopt by reference nationally recognized building codes in whole or in part,
   except as provided in subsection (5), and may adopt rules more stringent than those contained in national
   codes.
              (3)   The rules, when adopted as provided in parts 1 through 4, constitute the "state building code" and
   are acceptable for the buildings to which they are applicable.
              (4)   The department shall adopt rules that permit the installation of below-grade liquefied petroleum
   gas-burning appliances.
              (5)   The department may not include in the state building code a requirement for the installation of a
   fire sprinkler system in a single-family dwelling or a residential building that contains no more than two dwelling
   units.
                                                                  -1-                     Authorized Print Version – SB 178
67th Legislature                                                                                                      SB 178.1
              (5)(6)   (a) The department shall, by rule, adopt by reference the most recently published edition of the
   national fire protection association's publication NFPA 99C for the installation of medical gas piping systems.
   The department may, by rule, issue plumbing permits for medical gas piping systems and require inspections of
   medical gas piping systems.
              (b)   A state, county, city, or town building code compliance officer shall, as part of any inspection,
   request proof of a medical gas piping installation endorsement from any person who is required to hold an
   endorsement or who, in the inspector's judgment, appears to be involved with onsite medical gas piping activity.
   The inspector shall report any instance of endorsement violation to the inspector's employing agency, and the
   employing agency shall report the violation to the board of plumbers."
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              NEW SECTION. Section 2.         Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
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                                                                   -2-                      Authorized Print Version – SB 178
Statutes affected: 
SB0178_1.pdf: 50-60-203
SB0178_X.pdf: 50-60-203
Enrolled: 50-60-203
Introduced: 50-60-203