Senate Approves Building Code Exemption

Committee approves school violence notification bill

Harrisburg - The Senate unanimously approved legislation this week to exempt Pennsylvania from a new building code requirement designed for coastal areas and earthquake-prone regions, according to Senator Bob Robbins (R-50), a co-sponsor of the measure.

Senate Bill 437 would amend the PA Uniform Construction Code (UCC) by addressing a new mandate contained in the 2006 International Residential Code, which took affect on January 1, 2007. Under the mandate, all new residential construction is now required to have “anchor bolts” when the foundation and retaining walls are built, which could increase home building costs by as much as $3,000.

According to the Pennsylvania Builders Association, the states of Indiana and Georgia have removed the anchor bolt mandate and North and South Carolina are currently going thru the process of removing it as well.

Engineers from the Concrete Foundation Association, the National Association of Home Builders, the Portland Cement Association, the National Concrete Masonry Association and the National Ready Mix Concrete Association are in agreement that these provisions are unnecessary and have jointly submitted a code change to remove these provisions from the next published edition of the IRC which will not be until 2009.

Senator Robbins recently introduced legislation that would further amend the UCC to exclude temporary buildings at agricultural fairs.

Senate Bill 466 would exempt pole barns at agricultural fairs and temporary structures that are erected for a period of less than 180 days from the requirements set by the UCC. The legislation has been referred to the Senate Labor and Industry Committee for consideration

"It's one thing if they were putting up a permanent building, but the truth is that's not the case and I believe we need to provide an exemption for those types of temporary facilities as a way to help the many charitable organizations who put up displays at these fairs," Senator Robbins said. "It has come to my attention these provisions are necessary to correct problems hurting charitable groups at fairs and in the case of the pole building doubling the cost."

In committee actions, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 256, a measure that would allow for the denial of bail in cases involving serious crimes and/or dangerous individuals.

Specifically, the legislation amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) which addresses the right for prisoners to have bail. SB 256 would allow for the denial of bail for offenses for which the maximum sentence is life imprisonment or for cases where there are no conditions other than imprisonment that will reasonably protect public safety.

Reacting to a recent case where a Lehigh Valley school district failed to report alleged incidents of repeated sexual assaults, the Senate Education Committee approve legislation that would impose disciplinary actions and fines on school districts that do not immediately report criminal activities to law enforcement officials.

Under Senate Bill 112, schools would be required to immediately report violent offenses and those involving weapons possession to law enforcement officials or face fines ranging from $2,500 on first offense to $5,000 for a third or subsequent offense.

The confirmation process for Governor Rendell’s cabinet continued this week, as committees considered the reappointment of Major General Jessica Wright as State Adjutant General and Estelle Estelle B. Richman as the Secretary of the Department of Public Welfare, and the new appointment of Thomas W. Wolf as Secretary of Revenue.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322